Pyrenees Guide

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 Alberes.

Argeles Sur Mer is 20 kilometres from Perpignan, in one of the sunniest area of France, the sun, sea, mountain, Catalan traditions, gastronomy and viticulture, quality of life in protected environment, await you.

Dolmens bear testimony of the origins of Argeles Sur Mer that go back to Prehistory. The town was first mentioned under the Carolingian dynasty. From the feudal period to the 17th century, its history had always been closely linked to political and military events that succeeded in the Roussillon. Argeles Sur Mer was situated at the crossroads of important commercial routes that led to Spain via the passes of the Alberes. First dominated by the Counts of Roussillon, the Kings of Aragon took control of the town in the 12th century. It will stay under their domination until 1276.

From 1276 to 1344, Argeles Sur Mer belonged to the Kingdom of Majorca. In order to protect his lands from possible attacks, the King of Majorca built towers on the mountain crestline, one example being La Massane signal station overlooking Argeles Sur Mer. The town shut itself up within imposing ramparts. A fortified church with an impressive tower was erected. It is still standing in the centre of the old village. In 1344, the ephemeral kingdom of Majorca disappeared.

Both the town and Roussillon returned to the Aragon kingdom. However, Argel§Ús maintained its status of royal town, the sovereigns confirmed its privileges and kept a garrison stationed in the town. Until the 17th century, French and Spanish troops lauched assaults on Argel§Ús as that land had been regularly fought over.

In 1659, with the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Roussillon was definitively brought under the jurisdiction of France, but it got all its strategic importance back during the Franco-Spanish war in 1794.

In the early 20th century, Argeles Sur Mer was a large, rural village as there were a number like it in the department. Life was based on agriculture, breeding and craft industry. The fashion for summer holidays and the development of tourism industry will change everything during the 20th century.

In the early 20th century, Argeles Sur Mer was a large, rural village living mainly on agriculture, breeding and craft industry. World War I decimated a generation: 122 young inhabitants of Argel§Ús died in that war.

During the first half of the 20th century the town was beginning to be equipped with public services. Electricity appeared little by little (1910-1938) as well as running water. A rubbish collection service started (1923), the co-operative wine-cellar saw the light of day (1925), there were the first tourists on the beach playing tennis on the courts in the pine forest, going to the huts built on the sand or relaxing in bars and restaurants.

February 1939 was a turning point in the history of Argeles Sur Mer. As they were fleeing the Civil War and Franco's military regime, 500,000 refugees crossed the frontier. A camp was urgently set up on the beach. Nearly 200,000 persons stayed in the camp. From time to time, there were nearly 80,000 persons surviving in awful conditions. The camp was closed in 1941.

After World War II, from where 22 children of the village never returned, and the necessary period of reconstruction (30% of the villas of the beach were destroyed by the German army), in the latter half of the century, the town developed thanks to tourism industry.

In 2002, the creation of the Community of Municipalities of the Alberes gathering the eight villages and towns of the district confirmed the place of Alberes as the central town of a living area of 25,000 inhabitants. Over a century, Argeles Sur Mer has converted from a village into a small town combining tradition and modernity.