Pyrenees Guide

The Tet Valley (also known as the Conflent) had captivated the great cellist Pablo Casals because of the restful and peaceful shady calm of Prades its capital, seemingly watched over by the nearby and majestic Canigou mountain.

The real symbol of the Catalan Region, with its colours "sang et or" (blood red and gold), the yellow train links Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol. With its rich history and heritage -the cradle of the Catalan dynasty- the Conflent overflows with abbeys and romanesque churches with their shining baroque reredos.

The marvellous village of Eus, built on the flanks of a hillock with its church perched at the top, shows that we have arrived at the heart of the Conflent. Mosset, in the Castellane valley, is a charming medieval village, with its fully preserved fortifications. The perfume circuit is an original way to discover the region through the aromas on these olfactory walks. The river Tet carved its way through this valley which stretches from Rodes, near Vinca, to Mont-Louis and Cerdagne region. Conflent valley, as its name suggests, is the confluence of several rivers and valleys that merge together. There is a particular stone that reigns in the Conflent region, and that is marble. It exists in varying shades of pink : from deep ruby, to light pink, as fresh and as young as a peach tree flower, or pale pink like a rose petal.

Marble can be seen on the house fronts, in monastery cloisters where it was sculpted to reveal unusual beast-like forms, and in church altars. The Conflent is relatively sheltered from winds off the plain, and is sufficiently high enough to enjoy the pure, fresh air off the mountains. There are valleys of peach and apple trees that wind their way towards the wide flowing Tet river, and, stretch their branches upwards towards the ever present Canigou mountain. The Canigou seems so near but its summit is high above the Conflent, it dominates the countryside in this region. And in the silent obscurity underground, there are unimaginable cavities as vast as cathedrals. All this is part of the Conflent.

Aspres - Discover the curiosities in the Aspres from village to village, from one chapel to another. The character of Romanesque art impregnates this area. The capital of the Aspres is Thuir, a very lively and colorful town steeped in tradition. Thuir has the biggest oak wine barrel in the world. Not far ...

Molitg Les Bains - Right in the middle of Conflent, at 500 metres high, between the cities named Prades and Mosset is located this spa already known by Phoenicians and Romans. The source of warm water has regenerating properties, allowing to cure the dermatological infections and curative properties in the ...

Thuir - Thuir, located some kilometres away from Perpignan and Ille-sur-Tet, is above all the capital of Aspres. This city is especially known all over the world for its aperitif "Byrrh". But it is not the only drink prepared in this city by the establishments Cusenier, because it is also the ...

Belpuig - Near Belpuig, you can visit the Prieure de Serrabonne, probably the finest example of Roussillon ...

Ansignan - One can well understand that life has not always been easy in this part of the Fenouillèdes. The village is squashed on a spur of mountain peaks. All around, under the evergreen garrigue or scrubland, stones quickly come to the surface. If for an instant your attention falters, the dry stone ...

Ille sur Tet - The historic centre of Ille sur Tet is the most amazing evidence of the golden age in the Catalan region. The town has no less than four churches, fifty or so mansions or town houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and the wonderful charm of its old shaded streets and alleys. The ...

Nefiach - Unlike most Roussillon villages with collections made up over the centuries, Nefiach is the exact reflection of its times, like a snapshot of art and history in the reign of Louis XV. History of the Wish of the abbot Maron: The church of Notre Dame de Nefiach remains forever linked to its ...

Castelnou - Castelnou is a beautiful medieval city classified amongst the "loveliest villages in France". Visit the 11th century feudal castle (it used to be the military capital of the Viscount of the Vallespir), the church and the ramparts and enjoy the Canigou panoramic views from the ...

Fourques - Visit the 13th and 15th centuries Saint-Martin church with beautiful 18th century reredos (including the one of the main alter created in 1688 by Francois Negre, a sculptor from ...

Passa - Visit the Romanesque church of Saint Peter and its interesting 17th and 18th century forniture. Just near the village is the Monastir del Camp, a former priory. It has been a clssified monument since 1826. Discover the patio, the 12th century cloister and the 12th and 14th century monastic ...

Haut Conflent - Haut Conflent mountain passes are wide and inviting. They are reached by foot, or on horseback but not without with some effort. They are passing points from one valley to another, from a mountain peak crowned in snow to a rocky ridge. The aromas from jennet and juniper bushes, from the pines and ...

The Riberal Region - The Riberal departs from the river Tet and goes up as far as the Col de la Bataille. From the river, terraces of vines can be admired, carefully built up from river stones. The fertile land along the river is also source of inspiration for the « fairy chimneys », these towers or natural ...

Marquixane - Mountains I shall paint your spines tinged with blue over the beautiful bell- tower of Marquixane, and I want, on the front of it, draw the pure festoon of golden vineyards and the white trunk of a big plane tree". The poet Louis Codet evoked with these words this village. The writer Jean ...

Villefranche de Conflent - Villefranche de Conflent is located, in the middle of Conflent between Prades and Olette. This city was built by the count Guillaume-Raymond de Cerdagne, in the year 1090 and took advantage as early as its origin of fiscal advantages, that's why its name means in French "free town". Until ...

Mont Louis - The old fortified town of Mont Louis was built under Louis XIV by Vauban, from 1679 to 1681, in the crossroads of the valleys of Segre, the Aude, and the Tet. Mont Louis played a big role in the Treaty of Pyrenees and the French Revolution. Of the tray on which Mont Louis is built, the sight ...

Saint Pierre dels Forcats - With ski runs through the forest, situated at an altitude of 259 metres, the village also has a Romanesque church with a beautiful decorated master ...