Things to do
Whether wandering down the glorious sandy beaches or walking in the foothills of the Pyrenees, there is always much to do. Mountaineering, mountain biking, cycling, fishing, golf (27 hole Championship course at St. Cyprien, other courses over the border in Spain), tennis at Thuir, lake swimming at Vinca (15 minutes), sailing school at St. Cyprien, windsurfing at the resorts of St. Cyprien, Argeles and Canet-en-Roussillion, Scuba-Diving at Port Vendres (40 mins), yachting and boating harbours at Argeles Sur Mer.
There are several places to horse ride or trek, either near the coast or in the surrounding hills, kayaking, canyoning, climbing, hiking and pot-holing are all available. Thermal spas can be taken at the local spa towns such as St.-Thomas-les-Bains - approximately 30 minutes drive up into the Pyrenees. This open air spa overlooks the mountains and is a wonderful stop on the way up or down to the peak at Font Romeau
These are a few interesting places to visit - IN OUR OPINION!!:-
A visit to the coast at Collioure is a must. The best restaurant here (in our opinion!) is La Neptune – on the road out of Collioure towards Port Vendre. Expensive in the evenings but fair for lunch, mostly seafood etc. Also, take the coast road round to the next coastal town of Port Vendre where you can buy fresh fish from the trawlers or the Saturday market. One or two steps further along the coast you are in Spain.
A trip to the thermal baths at St Thomas le Bain (on the road from Villefrance to the ski resort of Font Romeau) is wonderful. Men must have ‘speedo’ style trunks – no baggies (same for any pools in France) – they can be hired there if you have none! It will be very cold up here out of season and warm clothing is essential. A stop at the town of Villefrance on the way up, or back is worthwhile. The ‘grottes’ here are fantastic, (wonderful stalactites/stalagmites etc.) and really worth a visit, especially for children. Avoid the ‘dinosaur’ caves (again in our view). You can climb up to the fort on the hillside if you can stand the steps.
From Villefrance you can take the ‘Little yellow train’ which is a spectacular ride up the mountain to Font Romeau and a popular attraction – we have not got around to doing it yet so cannot speak with confidence but see our visitors book at the villa for others views on this trip.
A visit to the next village from Camelas, – Castelnou is also a must. This 11th Century hill top village is one of the ’10 most beautiful’ villages in France. If in season, or out of season if the weather is kind, sit on the terrace at ‘La Hostel’ and enjoy coffee or lunch looking out over the world. There is also a chateau here you can visit if interested (and some pleasant wine tasting).
At Ille-sur-Tet (next town from Thuir) are the ‘organ pipes’ – they are an interesting geological feature but have limited opening times so check first, there are signs in Ille-sur-Tet to them and some information at the house.
On the way to Villefrance, you pass the lake at Vinca. Here you can lake swim and enjoy a lakeside beach. The other side of the lake, accessed via the nearby village, is a climb (by car) up to a vantage point well worth the climb. Walks are signposted and an unusual golf course (rarely playable due to lack of water and the exploits of local wild boar) sits on the very top.
Mount Canigou is a feature you cannot avoid in the area, if you wish to explore the mountain, there are several signs in villages around the base for 4x4 hire, which allows you to ride a certain way up, but the rest is by foot. The summit is a 2 day climb I believe and not for novices! The ‘Guide Vert’ (at the house in both French and English) gives more information on this.
There are a number of medieval towns in the area, the most famous of which is Carcassonne (1 hour or so on motorway). More information at the house on this and other towns of interest including Puilarens, Peryrepertuse and Querbus.
For a local trip, ride up to the village of Camelas – past the turning to the house (in the hamlet of Politg) and keep going up. The church is interesting but you can also park here and walk up the unmade path out of the top of the village, right up to the old hermitage on the top – more spectacular views but quite a climb (allow an hour or so to climb up, less perhaps to get back down!).
Of course, one of the most popular activities is relaxing by the pool and enjoying the view. Our local host, Bob is also a wealth of information and can provide advice on the local area and activities as required.
There are several places to horse ride or trek, either near the coast or in the surrounding hills, kayaking, canyoning, climbing, hiking and pot-holing are all available. Thermal spas can be taken at the local spa towns such as St.-Thomas-les-Bains - approximately 30 minutes drive up into the Pyrenees. This open air spa overlooks the mountains and is a wonderful stop on the way up or down to the peak at Font Romeau
These are a few interesting places to visit - IN OUR OPINION!!:-
A visit to the coast at Collioure is a must. The best restaurant here (in our opinion!) is La Neptune – on the road out of Collioure towards Port Vendre. Expensive in the evenings but fair for lunch, mostly seafood etc. Also, take the coast road round to the next coastal town of Port Vendre where you can buy fresh fish from the trawlers or the Saturday market. One or two steps further along the coast you are in Spain.
A trip to the thermal baths at St Thomas le Bain (on the road from Villefrance to the ski resort of Font Romeau) is wonderful. Men must have ‘speedo’ style trunks – no baggies (same for any pools in France) – they can be hired there if you have none! It will be very cold up here out of season and warm clothing is essential. A stop at the town of Villefrance on the way up, or back is worthwhile. The ‘grottes’ here are fantastic, (wonderful stalactites/stalagmites etc.) and really worth a visit, especially for children. Avoid the ‘dinosaur’ caves (again in our view). You can climb up to the fort on the hillside if you can stand the steps.
From Villefrance you can take the ‘Little yellow train’ which is a spectacular ride up the mountain to Font Romeau and a popular attraction – we have not got around to doing it yet so cannot speak with confidence but see our visitors book at the villa for others views on this trip.
A visit to the next village from Camelas, – Castelnou is also a must. This 11th Century hill top village is one of the ’10 most beautiful’ villages in France. If in season, or out of season if the weather is kind, sit on the terrace at ‘La Hostel’ and enjoy coffee or lunch looking out over the world. There is also a chateau here you can visit if interested (and some pleasant wine tasting).
At Ille-sur-Tet (next town from Thuir) are the ‘organ pipes’ – they are an interesting geological feature but have limited opening times so check first, there are signs in Ille-sur-Tet to them and some information at the house.
On the way to Villefrance, you pass the lake at Vinca. Here you can lake swim and enjoy a lakeside beach. The other side of the lake, accessed via the nearby village, is a climb (by car) up to a vantage point well worth the climb. Walks are signposted and an unusual golf course (rarely playable due to lack of water and the exploits of local wild boar) sits on the very top.
Mount Canigou is a feature you cannot avoid in the area, if you wish to explore the mountain, there are several signs in villages around the base for 4x4 hire, which allows you to ride a certain way up, but the rest is by foot. The summit is a 2 day climb I believe and not for novices! The ‘Guide Vert’ (at the house in both French and English) gives more information on this.
There are a number of medieval towns in the area, the most famous of which is Carcassonne (1 hour or so on motorway). More information at the house on this and other towns of interest including Puilarens, Peryrepertuse and Querbus.
For a local trip, ride up to the village of Camelas – past the turning to the house (in the hamlet of Politg) and keep going up. The church is interesting but you can also park here and walk up the unmade path out of the top of the village, right up to the old hermitage on the top – more spectacular views but quite a climb (allow an hour or so to climb up, less perhaps to get back down!).
Of course, one of the most popular activities is relaxing by the pool and enjoying the view. Our local host, Bob is also a wealth of information and can provide advice on the local area and activities as required.