Pyrenees Guide

Banyuls Sur Mer territory covers a vast 4.200 hectare inlet. It is varied, pinturesque and attractive and the scenary looks like that of Greece or North Africa. Nestling in the foothills of Pyrenees, Banyuls is a charming old fishing village, with quaint narrow streets and excellent beaches. The steep slopes of the surrounding hills are covered with vineyards. The Marine Reserve,which covers 650 hectares between Banyuls and Cerbere, makes Banyuls a great diving and snorkelling centre.

The two main beaches are the town beach and Les Elmes. Both are well protected and offer safe swimming and other watersports such as sailing and windsurfing. During the summer both beaches have permanent lifeguards. No boats are allowed in Les Elmes and boat access to the main beach is restricted. The harbor is a typical fishing harbor and also a holiday marina. The Aquarium built in 1885 in the harbor is a place where every body can learn about mediterranean fona and flora. It belongs to the University of Paris. Banyuls is both coastal resort and village of wine cellars, with vines growing on rocky sloping terraces. It took time and effort to fortify the walls of stone that provide the vine terraces for the fantastic wine of Banyuls. We recommend you visit a co-operative cellars, in which you can learn how the powerful nectars are transformed into wine.

Banyuls sur Mer - Banyuls Sur Mer territory covers a vast 4.200 hectare inlet. It is varied, pinturesque and attractive and the scenary looks like that of Greece or North Africa. Nestling in the foothills of Pyrenees, Banyuls is a charming old fishing village, with quaint narrow streets and excellent beaches. The ...

Argeles sur Mer - In Argeles Sur Mer there are 7-km sandy beach, 3-km small coves, the seaside resort that has been granted the blue flag award for its beaches and harbour. Here, there's the only village that has two nature reserves: Mas Larrieu nature reserve by the sea and La Massane forest in the heart of the ...

Canet de Roussillon - Canet en Roussillon is a modern resort with 9km of sandy beaches. It combines the charms of a traditional Mediterranean village with all the facilities to enjoy your holiday (marina, sailing school, horse riding centre, olympic swimming pool, tennis centre, beach clubs, casino, discos...). Between ...

Port Barcares - Port Barcares has 8 kilometres of fine sand, to bask in the sun and dive in the deep blue sea. Once early enough in the morning, on the way to the beach, let your eyes roll along the horizon and see the sunlight falling gently on the Canigou mountain. You know you are in Catalan country. The water ...

Saint Cyprien - Saint Cyprien has 6 kilometres of fine sand stretch along the sandy coast with the Canigou mountain and the Alberes hills in the background. Once Saint Cyprien coastline only had fishermen's huts. Saint Cyprien turned towards tourism in 1953 but it was in 1968 that Saint Cyprien plage started ...

Sainte Marie la Mer - Sainte Marie la Mer in Roussillon is a Pyrenees sea resort. Sainte Marie la Mer 3 kilometres of fine sand from the Natural Reserve to the port. The apricot orchards, vines and artichoke fields suddenly give way to the sea . Here the tamarinds with harsh leaves and pockmarked branches are at home. A ...

Torreilles - The first thing to be made when you arrive to Torreilles, will be to precipitate on the beach. Being lengthened on the sand magnificently warm, after your first dive in the Med, please, contemplate the peace of mind of a 4 km fine sand beach without a building in sight, and a natural environment ...

Port Vendres - As the only natural port along the cote Vermeille between the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees and Spain, Port-Vendres was known already to the Greek mariners of antiquity. The port flourished after the french conquest during the 17 th century. It was this maritime prosperity which led to the ...

Cerbere - When you're coming from Banyuls-sur-Mer, in the direction of Spain, you will cross the picturesque village of Cerbere . Much more friendly than its name would appear for the non initiated people, Cerbere was a dog with several heads which had to look after children in the Greek mythology. Located ...

Baixas - In the heart of a well-known vineyard, the village of Baixas has retained the main part of its medieval walls. Fortified in the 14th century, the 4 gateways of the town are proof of the economic importance of Baixas at the time of the kingdom of Majorca. The bell tower of the Canons of Elne: The ...

Canet Plage - This seaside resort is one of the jewels of the Catalan coast. Its modern constructions of daring architectural design which harmonise with the beach. and its immense sea front boulevard and busy yachting harbour along with the quality of its sports facilities. Canet Plage is the favourite seaside ...

Collioure - Collioure, an idyllic place on the rocky coastline, is situated in the very south of France, 26 km (approx. 15 miles) from the Spanish border. The picturesque village is nestled in an authentic environment. Its small Catalan harbor is sheltered by a quiet bay where the chain or the Pyrenees meet ...

Elne - Elne is located between Perpignan and Argeles-sur-Mer . The name results from the empress Helene, the mother of the Emperor Constantin Le Grand. Elne is a city with Spanish accents, surrounded with ramparts, is the oldest city in the region Roussillon. It already existed at the time of the Iberians ...