Pyrenees Guide

The Catalans of Pyrenees Orientales identify themselves with the Canigou, the prestige of which comes both from its beauty and from a whole people’s identity. In spring, you will be delighted to contemplate a landscape in which the snow-clad Canigou overlooks peach orchards blossoms.

The Canigou Peak (2784 metres), is the summit of a massif which is isolated from the rest of the Pyrenees Mountains by the Cerdagne and Conflent huge moat. To the north of the massif, the valley of the river Têt has excavated a large canyon that separates the mountain from the Fenouillède and the Corbieres areas. Its flora is remarkable, and the massif also has a protected wildlife. At the foot of the massif, you can find most remarkable romanesque buildings in Saint Martin du Canigou Abbey, Bouleternere, Serrabone Romanesque Priory, or Saint Michel de Cuxa Abbey, etc.

Eus - Being considered as one of the most beautiful villages in France, it was built in "soulane", that is to say on the sunny hillside of the mountain. The structure of the village is in successive half-circles, going from the top of a massive church with a square tower, then houses rise in ...

Prades - Prades, capital of the Conflent region, nestling in the foothills of Mount Canigou is an important centre where the plains meet the mountains. Prades was first mentioned in historical documents in 843 by its latin name Prata Virent meaning “green fields”. Charles le Chauve gave the ...

Saint Michel de Cuxa Abbey - Three kilometres of Prades is Saint Michel de Cuxa (Catalan: Sant Miquel de Cuixa), a Benedictine Catalan abbey (one of the loveliest in the country) located on the territory of the commune of Codalet, in the Pyrenees-Orientales departement, in southwestern France. It was an important cultural ...

Vernet les Bains - Vernet-les-Bains is a beautiful mountain village situated at an altitude of 650 metres (about 2,000 feet) in the eastern Pyrenees of France. It is an ideal centre for visitors and holidaymakers. The village enjoys a wonderful climate (with, on average, 300 days of sunshine each year) and is set in ...

Taurinya - On the summer holiday route, no one is likely to forget the visit to the thousand year old abbey of Saint Michel de Cuixa. Just a few kilometres on up the valley, a pretty secondary road will lead you without encountering opposition as far as Taurinya. The village is peaceful and green. Its church ...

Marcevol - Although in the Fenouilledes country, Marcevol faces towards the landscapes of the Conflent, from Vinca, a small road will lead you without encountering any opposition up to the famous priory built for the canons of St John of Jerusalem. The monastery: A great gateway in pink marble proclaims ...

Serrabone Romanesque Priory - Isolated in a wild site in the massif des Aspres, this austere and robust country church houses one of the finest and rarest collections of Romanesque sculptures in Pyrenees ...

Saint Martin du Canigou Abbey - The Saint Martin du Canigou abbey is one of the first Romanesque buildings in the Pyrenees Orientales. The crypt is the oldest part of the Abbey, which was founded by Count Guilfred Cabreta. Consecrated in 1009, it is built on a slope of the Canigou amongst trees, shrubs and flowers and wild ...

Catalan Village - Le Village Catalan reproduces the architecture of a traditional Catalan Village. It is located in the microclimatic foothills of snow-capped Canigou in the Pyrenees, between the ski resorts and the Mediterranean. It is known to have the best climate in France, with an average 300 days of sunshine ...

Vinca - Since 1976 the barrage ensures a reservoir of water for drinking and irrigation. Vinca used to belong to the Kings of Aragon and was fortified by James (Jaime) the Conqueror in the 13th century. Visit the imposing church and its rich furniture ...

Nohedes - Look at Nohedes lakes in a natural site dominated by Madres Peak at an altitude of 2.460m and visit a nearby natural ...

Corneilla de Conflent - Corneilla de Conflent used to belong to the Counts of Conflent and Cerdagne. Visit the original square tower of its 16th century Romanesque church with its superb marble ...

Casteil - You have to pass through this quiet mountain village, situated in a green bower, to reach the pathway up to the Saint Martin du Canigou abbey. We recommend to visit Casteil animal park and its mountain ...

Gorges of the Caranca - A succession of rich breathtaking cornices and narrow passageways in a wild site of remarkable beauty. The paths are marked out for security reasons. One path leads to the refuge of the Ras Caranca and joins up with the GR10. A little further away, the izards find refuge in the ...

Olette - Just in the middle of Conflent, on the road of winter sports, this surprising small village, with its houses with 3 or 4 floors, leaned to the mountain is a beauty spot. An advice, please, don't be in a hurry, so you will appreciate the majestic landscape where the difficult road is unfortunately ...