tourist map of perpignan

Map of Perpignan — Best attractions, restaurants, and transportation info

What’s on this map.

We’ve made the ultimate tourist map of Perpignan, France for travelers! Check out Perpignan’s top things to do, attractions, restaurants, and major transportation hubs all in one interactive map.

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Use this interactive map to plan your trip before and while in Perpignan. Learn about each place by clicking it on the map or read more in the article below. Here’s more ways to perfect your trip using our Perpignan map:

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Top 15 attractions in Perpignan

Musée d'art hyacinthe rigaud.

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Perpignan Cathedral

Tourist office of perpignan, cinéma mégacastillet.

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Campo Santo

Rue rené paratilla, natural history museum, les halles vauban, sant vicens, la casa musicale, square bir hakeim, the laugh box, chapelle du dévot christ, parc saint-vincent, top 10 restaurants in perpignan.

Spaghetteri' Aldo

La galinette, restaurant les antiquaires, restaurant le sud, restaurant le divil, dali hotel perpignan - restaurant, la villa duflot perpignan restaurant hôtel&spa, transportation in perpignan, nearby airports, béziers cap d'agde airport, aéroport sud de france perpignan, girona–costa brava airport, carcassonne airport, highways and major roads.

• Route Nationale 9

Popular road trips from Perpignan

What's the weather like in perpignan.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Perpignan for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Perpignan in January
• Weather in Perpignan in February
• Weather in Perpignan in March
• Weather in Perpignan in April
• Weather in Perpignan in May
• Weather in Perpignan in June
• Weather in Perpignan in July
• Weather in Perpignan in August
• Weather in Perpignan in September
• Weather in Perpignan in October
• Weather in Perpignan in November
• Weather in Perpignan in December

All road trips from Perpignan

• Perpignan to Barcelona drive
• Perpignan to Paris drive
• Perpignan to Madrid drive
• Perpignan to Valencia drive
• Perpignan to Marseille drive
• Perpignan to Nice drive
• Perpignan to Lyon drive
• Perpignan to Toulouse drive
• Perpignan to Brussels drive
• Perpignan to Salou drive
• Perpignan to Carcassonne drive
• Perpignan to Bordeaux drive
• Perpignan to Avignon drive
• Perpignan to Montpellier drive
• Perpignan to Lloret de Mar drive
• Perpignan to Bilbao drive
• Perpignan to Geneva drive
• Perpignan to Alicante drive
• Perpignan to Frankfurt drive
• Perpignan to La Rochelle drive
• Perpignan to Nantes drive
• Perpignan to Agde drive
• Perpignan to Lourdes drive
• Perpignan to Biarritz drive
• Perpignan to Santander drive
• Perpignan to Lille drive
• Perpignan to Nimes drive
• Perpignan to Bournemouth drive
• Perpignan to Tossa de Mar drive
• Perpignan to Cannes drive

Explore nearby places

• Saint-Esteve
• Villeneuve-de-la-Raho
• Saint-Nazaire
• Canet-en-Roussillon
• Corneilla-del-Vercol
• Espira de l'Agly
• Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque
• St-Hippolyte
• Saint-Cyprien
• Villemolaque
• Latour-Bas-Elne

All related maps of Perpignan

• Map of Saint-Esteve
• Map of Cabestany
• Map of Bompas
• Map of Toulouges
• Map of Saleilles
• Map of Villeneuve-de-la-Raho
• Map of Canohes
• Map of Theza
• Map of Rivesaltes
• Map of Saint-Nazaire
• Map of Claira
• Map of Le Soler
• Map of Baixas
• Map of Canet-en-Roussillon
• Map of Corneilla-del-Vercol
• Map of Alenya
• Map of Espira de l'Agly
• Map of Torreilles
• Map of Bages
• Map of Ponteilla
• Map of Montescot
• Map of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque
• Map of St-Hippolyte
• Map of Trouillas
• Map of Elne
• Map of Saint-Cyprien
• Map of Villemolaque
• Map of Latour-Bas-Elne
• Map of Ortaffa
• Map of Passa

Perpignan throughout the year

• Perpignan in January
• Perpignan in February
• Perpignan in March
• Perpignan in April
• Perpignan in May
• Perpignan in June
• Perpignan in July
• Perpignan in August
• Perpignan in September
• Perpignan in October
• Perpignan in November
• Perpignan in December

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Perpignan travel guide

Visit Perpignan (Occitanie, France)

Perpignan is an important French town, 10 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast in Languedoc-Roussillon and north of the border with Spain.

Salvador Dali declared that Perpignan was the centre of the world - something of an exaggeration perhaps however the town is an interesting, lively, modern town, with its roots as an active regional centre dating to the early Middle Ages. Perpignan's medieval centre has a distinctly Catalan feel.

Explore Perpignan

The medieval centre of Perpignan is charming. The river Basse runs through the city centre and has beautifully planted gardens running along its edge. To the south of the river narrow streets and open squares entice the traveller to explore the city centre.

France This Way review: Perpignan is ideal for visitors looking for a typical 'normal' French town to simply spend some time, look in some shops, take a drink, relax and explore.

The medieval centre is quite small and easy to visit in a half a day. On the edge of the old centre is the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, a very attractive building with a moorish air. The part of the town between the 14th century entrance gate at Castillet and the Place de la Loge, and then south to the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, is the most interesting for visitors, and there are several attractive medieval buildings dotted around this central section.

On the edge of the river Basse and the Place de la Victoire is the the city gate called the Castillet. Built in the 14th century it has also been used as a prison. The Porte Notre Dame was added by Louis XI and Castillet is now home to the Museum of Catalan History.

The Hotel de Ville, called the Loge de Mer, was built over the 13th, 16th and 17th centuries and was originally the stock exchange. In its courtyard is one of Maillol's statues, La Mediterranee.

The narrow Place de la Loge with its red marble floors and selection of restaurants is an attractive spot and was a favourite meeting point for refugees fleeing France for Spain during the Second World War.

Perpignan's cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built in the 14th century in a Gothic style although it did not become a cathedral until 1601. The cathedral was built in a style with a Catalan influence especially its ornate campanile.

Be sure to look inside the cathedral as it has retained the paintwork that used to be in almost all churches. It is beautiful and gives the cathedral a very warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Next to the cathedral the Campo Santo is an unusual cloister-cemetery. It is the only one in France.  As it has a large open centre it is often used for concerts in the summer. In front of the cathedral you can see a lovely square surrounded by tall brick buildings with pale, painted shutters and ornate balconies.

The highlight of Perpignan is its lovely Palace of the Kings of Majorca (Palais des rois de Majorque). This was built in the 13th century for the court of Jacques II of Majorca and is a mix of civil and military architecture. It is built of a lovely red brick and from its walls you get some excellent views over the city and surrounding area.

In the 17th century Vauban, a famous French military architect,  updated the military defences of the palace. He also built defensive walls around Perpignan but these were removed as the city grew.

Be sure to explore the narrow alleys around the cathedral in the Arab Quarter, for a taste of a different Perpignan. Place Cassanyes is a market square with a north African flavour. The smell of the herbs and spices is delicious.

Perpignan has a decent art gallery, the Musee des Beaux-Arts Hyacinthe Rigaud, whose collection includes works by Maillol, Picasso, Miro and Dufy. This is housed in an 18th century mansion. Another interesting building is the Casa Xano which is a 16th century mansion and the only gothic house remaining in Perpignan. Its facade is sculpted with a frieze showing the seven deadly sins.

Near to Perpignan

Perpignan is a good place to stay if you are hoping to explore the western Pyrenees a little, with a chance to enjoy picturesque villages, mountain scenery and historic monuments such as the cathar castles. Typical excursions include the Tech valley through Céret and towards Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste , the Têt valley towards Villefranche-de-Conflent and mountain top castles such as Chateau Queribus and Chateau Peyrepertuse .

The closest beach to Perpignan is at Canet Plage, east of the town. Many of the beaches along this stretch of coast are rather overdeveloped and a bit featureless, but we didn't visit all of them, and they are fine if you have children want to see the sea. The historic resort at Collioure , about 25 kilometres south of Perpignan, is our favourite on this coast.

You can find more travel ideas in the Pyrenees-Orientales guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide .

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Map of perpignan and places nearby, visit near perpignan with france this way reviews.

Perpignan Palace of Kings of Majorca

The Palace of Kings of Majorca is an imposing fortress and royal residence in Perpignan, built of red brick in the 13th century

Elne is a quiet town, with the cathedral cloisters among the highlights in the town

Saint Cyprien - Pyrenees Orientales

Activity in the seaside resort of Saint-Cyprien is most definitely centred around the beach and seafront!

Fort de Salses

The medieval fort of Salses was transformed by Vauban to create a substantial and impregnable fortress

The picturesque village of Castelnou, overlooked by a castle, is one of our favourite Languedoc-Roussillon villages

Argeles-sur-Mer

The long beach, the forest and the lively town mean Argeles-sur-Mer is a very popular summertime resort

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Pyrenees-Orientales

Tourist classifications for Perpignan

Perpignan has received the following tourist classifications: listed town of Art and History ; historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé)

Address: Perpignan, Languedoc-Roussillon, 66000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 42.698, longitude 2.8955

Plan your visit to Perpignan, Pyrenees-Orientales

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

• Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (Cabestany): religious monument (4 km)
• Étang de Canet-Saint-Nazaire: site of natural beauty (9 km)
• Eglise de Saint Michel (Saint-Genis-des-fontaines): religious monument (17 km)
• Castelnou : most beautiful village (18 km)
• Étang de Leucate: site of natural beauty (19 km)
• Chapel Saint-Martin de Fenollar (Maureillas-las-Illas): religious monument (22 km)
• Orgues d'Ille-sur-Tet : site of natural beauty (23 km)
• Chapelle de Casenoves (Ille-sur-tet): religious monument (23 km)
• Prieuré de Serrabone (Boule-d'Amont): religious monument (28 km)
• Paulilles: site of natural beauty (29 km)
• Pic de Fontfrède: site of natural beauty (30 km)
• Eglise de Sainte Marie de Marcevol (Arboussols): religious monument (33 km)

Market days in Perpignan, France

Regular market(s) are held in Perpignan each Every day. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Perpignan (Francais)

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Situated thirty kilometres form the Spanish border, Perpignan, city of Art and History, retains from its past as the former continental capital of the kingdom of Majorca an historic centre of harmonious architecture, predominantly in the Gothic style.

Constructed at the end of the 14th century, then modified under Louis XI, the celebrated Castillet, the terrace of which gives an uninterrupted view over the roofs of the city, is the symbol of Perpignan. Once you have passed through the imposing fortified entrance, stroll along the little streets of shops, then set off to discover the treasures of the old town: the 14th-18th century Cathedral of St John the Baptist, topped with a wrought-iron bell tower, the choir of which has a 17th century marble altarpiece and whose Devout Christ chapel holds a 14th century woodcarving of Christ; the old funeral cloister of Saint-Jean from the beginning of the 14th century - the Campo Santo - the largest and oldest of this type in France; the Place de la Loge with its remarkable Gothic style building, the Loge de Mer; a palace-fortress of the Kings of Majorca from the 13th and 14th centuries, and its gardens overlooking the town; the forecourt of the Town Hall with its bronze statue by the sculptor Maillol, "La Méditerranée"...

You can also enjoy a moment of relaxation, ambling around the heart of the Bir Hakeim square or along the majestic Promenade des Platanes, with its many statues.

The Castillet, which was a gateway to the town then a state prison before being classed as an Historic Building in 1889, is now home to a museum which traces the history of North Catalonia from Antiquity to the present day.

Each year, around 23 April, the festival of Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia, is celebrated. Place Gambetta is transformed into a real open air bookshop, where the book is given pride of place by of publishers, writers and booksellers. Full of things to see and do, this special day is also that of the rose, which has been celebrated here since the 15th century!

Additional information Perpignan

Catalan city par excellence, Perpignan takes place in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales , in the heart of the Occitania region. Situated about thirty kilometers from the Spanish border, this city of art and history is located in the center of the Roussillon plain, about ten kilometers from Canet-en-Roussillon and the Mediterranean Sea.

Former Continental Capital of the Kingdom of Majorca between 1276 and 1344, Perpignan was born in the ninth century. But it was not before the end of the 10th century that the city really took off, becoming capital of the counts of Roussillon. Long Spanish, the Catalan city will have to wait until the middle of the XVIIth century to join the kingdom of France.

Very attached to its roots and its Catalan culture, Perpignan is today mainly a tourist city. The charm of its atmosphere, its architectural heritage and its festive events make it an ideal place to spend holidays in the south of France.

Things to see and do

Fortress palace of the fourteenth century, the palace of the Kings of Majorca dominates the plain and the valley of Roussillon. Surrounded by gardens, it has been listed in the Historical Monuments, and classified for its old door of the sixteenth century. Of gothic style under Oriental influence, it allows notably to appreciate the palace Majorcan of James II. On two levels, the gardens offer a breathtaking view of the Canigou massif, the Mediterranean Sea, Força Réal , or the plain of Roussillon. Today, the site is the scene of many festivities throughout the year.

Former entrance to the ramparts, the Castillet now houses a Catalan museum of popular arts and traditions. Classified as a Historical Monument, the 14th-century building housed a prison for a while and is a fine example of military architecture in the region.

The lodge of Mer and the town hall form a beautiful medieval ensemble. The first, in Gothic style, used to serve as a commercial court, and now houses a cafe. The town hall was built in the 14th and 17th centuries.

The religious buildings are numerous in Perpignan, starting with the cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste built between the fourteenth and the sixteenth century. In southern Gothic style, it has been classified as a Historic Monument. The oldest funerary cloister in France, the Campo Santo takes place by his side, but is unfortunately more whole. Not far from there, Saint-Jean-le-Vieux is an old Romanesque collegiate church today partly disused. Also classified as a Historic Monument, it has a beautiful southern white marble portal. The beauty of the 13th-century Saint-Jacques church, Sainte-Marie-et-Saint-Pierre church of Château-Roussillon, the Minimes convent and Notre-Dame-la -Réal which dates from the fourteenth century.

The fortifications of Perpignan are made up of all the military constructions that surround the city. In addition to Castillet, the palace of the Kings of Majorca and the Citadel, one can discover during walks the telescope of Canet, as well as part of the ramparts.

In the center you can admire the Casa Xanxo, a beautiful Gothic house from the beginning of the 16th century, or the Saint-Martin church rebuilt in the 1920s in a mixture of Art Deco and Neo-Romanesque.

Several museums take place in Perpignan, like the Hyacinthe-Rigaud Museum. It reveals beautiful collections of paintings and decorative arts, including works by Pablo Picasso. You can also discover the Museum of Natural History, as well as the Museum of Coins and Medals Joseph Puig.

The natural heritage of Perpignan is also of great interest. You will love to stroll in the square Bir-Hakeim or on the promenade of the plane trees with its beautiful statues.

Do not miss to go to the station of Perpignan, this one was designated by the painter Salvador Dalí, as the center of the world.

Leisure activities

Places of interest, events and festivities.

Perpignan offers markets every day, Monday to Sunday. Fairs are also held at various times of the year. On Saturdays, the city highlights the antique dealers in the Maillol alleys, while a medieval market is organized every October. In December, the Christmas market takes place in the city.

During Holy Week, a festival of sacred music is offered in Perpignan.

Around April 23, Sant Jordi, patron saint of Catalonia, transforms Place Gambetta into a large book market, also celebrating the rose according to a 15th century tradition.

Every Good Friday, the city offers its Sanch procession, an annual Catholic ceremony of Catalan culture.

In June, you can discover the art book and film festival.

In July and August, the city offers concerts as part of the jazz aperitifs, the musicals and the Têt en fête festival, not to mention the Live at the Campo festival!

During the summer, the Palace of the Kings of Majorca hosts the Eté 66 festival.

The start of the school year is punctuated by the international photojournalism festival "Visa pour l'image".

Dedicated to jazz music, Jazzèbre is a festival offering various concerts between September and October.

At Christmas, a Ferris wheel is installed in the town of Perpignan.

Detailed information

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

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Inspiration

Occitanie Cultural Heritage Cities

Reading time: 0 min Published on 4 January 2023, updated on 16 April 2024

The Capital of French Catalonia

Perpignan , the last big city before the Spanish border, is the capital of the Pyrenees Orientales department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Located at the foot of the Pyrenees and but a few kilometres from the sea, it boasts a long list of assets and acts as a bridge between Barcelona and the south of France.

This Catalan-flavoured city is set in a picture-perfect natural environment: next to the Mediterranean coast with renowned holiday destinations like Collioure, mountain ranges including the imposing Canigou massif, the vineyards and orchards of the Roussillon plain...

A university town rich in art and history, Perpignan seduces with its contrasts, with its oft-exuberant vitality and relaxed hospitality. You'll be charmed by its Mediterranean architecture, its winding medieval streets and the lively squares lined with palm trees. The ever-present sunshine inspires simplicity and strolling about, or shopping in the many boutiques and sweetly scented Southern markets.

For centuries now, Perpignan has been a land of refuge, welcoming people of different backgrounds that have today permeated the city's culture and lifestyle.

Do not miss

The city has kept many of the cultural treasures accumulated over the past centuries, particularly from its Golden Age as the Kingdom of Majorca. The following major sites clearly testify to this:

• The Palace of the Kings of Majorca , a 14th-century palace-fortress ;
• The Loge de la Mer , once the city's commercial and maritime jurisdiction ;
• The splendidly Gothic City Hall and Palace of the Deputation ;
• The Castillet , in turn a castle, city gate and prison, is today's emblem of Perpignan ;
• The Saint-Jean-Le-Baptiste Cathedral and Campo Santo , the largest cloister cemetery in France ;
• Saint-Jacques Church , departure point for the solemn Sanch Procession every Good Friday ;
• The Hyacinthe Rigaud Museum , with a notable Catalan Gothic art collection and modern paintings by Maillol, Picasso...

Modern architecture has also made a place for itself, as can be seen with the new TGV train station and, along the Tech River, the Théatre de l’Archipel complex designed by Jean Nouvel.

For a veritable taste of Catalan culture, try to remember some of these names: boles de Picoulat , bullinada , vegetable escalivada , snails à la catalane , bougnettes , ollada , brazo de gitano ...

Wine lovers also have much to get excited about! The area is famous for its muscat and grenache grapes, for its red, white and rosé wines from vineyards with melodic names like Côtes du Roussillon, Rivesaltes, Collioure, Banyuls…

• Tilt Festival , the place-to-be for electronic music fans (March)
• Confrontation Film and History Festival (Spring)
• Fête de la Saint Jean celebrations (June)
• Les Jeudis de Perpignan , or Perpignan Thursdays, filling the streets with music, theatre and animations (every summer Thursday)
• Guitares au Palais Festival , held at the Palace of Majorca (last weekend of August)
• Visa pour l'image Festival , the biggest international photojournalism event (beginning of September)
• Jazzèbre Festival , a three-week musical journey through the sounds of jazz and world music (September-October)
• Festival de la Voix , reuniting musicians, singers and speech pathologists for a music-filled weekend (October)
• By plane : the Perpignan-Rivesaltes airport operates national and international flights - some flying only during certain periods -, from Paris-Orly, Nantes, Palma-de-Majorca, Birmingham, London, Southampton, Dublin and Brussels ;
• By car : the A9 motorway is a link to Narbonne in the north and Barcelona in the south ;
• By train : the Perpignan station is serviced by high-speed TGV trains, intercity routes and the TER Languedoc-Roussillon regional network.

Perpignan Tourist Office Palais des Congrès Place Armand Lanoux - BP 40215 Perpignan Cedex, 66002 Tel : + 33 (0)4 68 66 30 30 Mail : [email protected]

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Framed by the peaks of the Pyrenees, Perpignan radiates out from the tight knot of the old town's warren of alleys, palm-shaded squares and shabby tenements painted in shades of lemon, peach and tangerine.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Palais des Rois de Majorque

Perpignan’s most dominant monument, the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca sprawls over a huge area to the south of the old town. Built in 1276, the castle…

Cathédrale St-Jean

Perpignan’s old town has several intriguing churches, but the most impressive is the Cathédrale St-Jean, begun in 1324 and not completed until 1509…

Musée d'Art Hyacinthe Rigaud

Occupying two elegant hôtels particuliers (private mansions) right in the historical centre, this museum was entirely renovated in 2017 and now ranks as…

Place de la Loge

Three fine stone structures flank place de la Loge. The 14th-century La Loge de Mer was rebuilt during the Renaissance; it was once Perpignan’s stock…

Le Castillet & Musée Casa Païral

Like many medieval towns, Perpignan was once encircled by defensive walls. Today all that remains is the red-brick town gate of Le Castillet, at the…

La Loge de Mer

The 14th-century La Loge de Mer, rebuilt during the Renaissance, was once Perpignan’s stock exchange, then its maritime tribunal.

Hôtel de Ville

The Hôtel de Ville has a typically Roussillon pebbled façade of river stones.

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May 8, 2020 • 4 min read

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Things to Do in Perpignan, France - Perpignan Attractions

Things to do in perpignan, explore popular experiences, tours in and around perpignan.

tasting workshop of 6 to 8 wines with charcuterie chocolate cheese

The "Break in Prison" room

Parasailing

Private Wine Tasting and Walks in the Vineyards of Rivesaltes

The White House

The “Un Train d’Enfer” room

Sea trip in a fast and comfortable sailboat in Leucate: privatization 1/2d

Nausicaa. Discover Collioure and the Côte Vermeille from the sea.

Salses Fortress Entrance Ticket

Private Commented Excursion in Argelès-sur-Mer by 2 CV Citroën

Tours & sightseeing.

Top Attractions in Perpignan

Other Top Attractions around Perpignan

What travelers are saying

• Site Naturel des Dosses
• Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Perpignan
• Musée d'art Hyacinthe Rigaud
• L' Aquarium Oniria
• Torreilles-Plage
• Lac de la Raho
• Le Jardin d'Ariane
• EcoZonia - Parc Animalier
• Escape Dimension La Croisée des Mondes
• Escapix - Escape Game
• TimeZone - Escape Game Perpignan
• SENSAS Perpignan
• La Boussole, Escape Game Perpignan - Canet.

• 1.1 Climate
• 1.2 History
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.4 By road
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Quartier Saint-Jean
• 4.2 Quartier de La Réal
• 4.3 Quartier Saint-Jacques
• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 11 Stay safe
• 12 Stay healthy

Perpignan ( Perpinyà in Catalan ) is the capital of the department of Pyrénées-Orientales , the Northern Catalonia part of France , and about 15 km from the sea. Perpignan is home to about 120,000 people, and has two rivers flowing through it; with the Têt to the north, and the Basse through the centre. Once the continental capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, Perpignan has been an economical and educational centre for centuries, and this is evident in its architecture.

Understand [ edit ]

Perpignan sits on the crossroads of the French and Spanish, Catalan and Languedocian cultural spheres. It was the "mainland" capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca for a while and gained further fame as a connection point between France and Spain when the first high-speed standard gauge rail line between the two countries opened from Figueres in 2010 with the missing section onwards via Girona to Barcelona and thence all of Spain opening in 2013. Perpignan gained some questionable fame in the 2020 municipal elections when a member of the far-right RN and former partner of its leader Marine Le Pen, won the mayoral election, making Perpignan the biggest city with a far-right mayor in France.

Perpignan is in the heart of the Roussillon plain, about 10-15 km from the beaches of Côte d'Améthyste (Amethyst coast) on the Mediterranean. It sits between the Corbières region and the Albères Massif, foothills of the Pyrenees and the emblematic mountain Pic du Canigou is visible to the southwest.

The historical centre has narrow streets with brick houses and one of the highlights here is the quartier Saint-Jacques with the Medieval Jewish quartier. The citadel with the royal palace, the Castillet and ramparts are monuments to the time when the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca. There's more to the old town than history, it also has many bars and a vibrant nightlife.

The outskirts of the city show a sharp contrast to the old town. In the latter half of the 20th century Perpignan grew rapidly, one of the reasons was that people moving from independent Algeria settled here. During this time many suburbs emerged, being built quickly and in a disorderly manner.

This article also covers Argelès-sur-Mer , one of the major seaside resorts in the south of France (300 days of sunshine per year). That old and lively Catalan village is built around its church and museum.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate is Mediterranean with hot summers and mild winters, which is evident in the vegetation. Trees include olive trees, palms, green oaks, cork oaks and pines, together with fruit trees (peach, apricot, cherry, almond and orange). In the arid higher locations grows garrigue, thymes and wild lavender.

Rain is relatively rare, though when it falls it's sometimes torrential. Such rains usually occur during late summer or early autumn. Perpignan gets a lot of sun, on average 2506 hours a year - much thanks to the Pyrenees that block rainy weather coming in from the Atlantic.

Wind patterns have names; usually it blows from the northwest, and the wind is called tramontane . The wind from Spain (southwest) is known as alber , from southeast marinada and south migjorn are rarer but these too help clear the sky from clouds.

History [ edit ]

The oldest traces of human habitation are from the 7th century BCE, discovered through archaeological diggings around Château-Roussillon. Made up of the remains of a home and a grave, it is known as the Ruscino site. In pre-Christian times Perpignan was an important town, first the capital of the Sordones (an Iberic people) and during Roman times a prosperous city with a forum, basilicas, thermal baths and patricians residences. The Roman name for the town was Ruscino, which has evolved into Roussillon. However, the Romans decided to move the regional administration to nearby Elne , meaning the decline of Ruscino. In Elne an episcopal seat was established.

In the early 8th century the Muslims marching northwards from Spain returned the regional capital status to Ruscino. The first reference of the city's present name was in a charter from 927, where a place named Villa Perpiniani had been established outside Ruscino. This modest village was chosen as the capital by the counts of Roussillon who had a castle built here in the 11th century. In 1172 it became part of the crown of Aragon, and the city received privileges including a local government with a great degree of autonomy.

The 13th and 14th centuries were known as the golden age of Perpignan. Christians reconquered the Balearic Islands , and together with areas in present-day northeastern Spain and south coastal France they were made into a separate kingdom, the Kingdom of Majorca, with Perpignan as its capital. Many of the grand buildings such as the cathedral, royal palace, ramparts and a sea court are from this time. In 1344 the kingdom was reincorporated into the Crown of Aragon.

Roussillon including Perpignan was annexed by France in 1463, and this was followed by 30 years of local revolt against the French. In 1493 Aragon gained control again and the city became known as Fidelissima Vila de Perpinyà - the faithful city of Perpignan. Aragon and later Spain built fortifications around the Perpignan, but in 1642 the French Army returned and in 1659 the region became part of France as part of the Treaty of the Pyrenees. The fortifications were improved again, this time by the famous architect Vauban, and also the city was modernized.

Perpignan saw warfare again during the Napoleonic Wars. As a city near the border of two European powers, many buildings were converted into military use and many others were destroyed to make the city less cramped. In theh 19th century, Perpignan was industrialized and became an economic center. In the 20th century, the town was under German occupation during WWII and received a large influx of pieds noirs , French North Africans, when Morocco, Tunisia and especially Algeria became independent in the 1960s. The resulting population growth meant that suburbs were created around Perpignan. Perpignan today remains an important economic center in southern France, as well as a popular transport hub for tourists.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

By train [ edit ], by bus [ edit ].

Flixbus runs daily direct from Paris, taking 12 hr 30 min and continuing to Barcelona. Other services from Paris involve changing in Lyon.

Blablabus ride-shares are often the most convenient way to Girona, Barcelona and cities in southern France.

Local buses run to Argelès-sur-Mer, Thuir , Ille-sur-Têt, Le Boulou and Quillan.

Central Bus Station is west side of the railway station.

By road [ edit ]

Autoroute A9 ( La Catalane , toll) follows the coast. From the north join it off A7 near Orange, and follow it past Nîmes , Montpellier , Béziers and Narbonne .

From Bordeaux and Toulouse follow A62 / A61 to Narbonne to join A9.

From Spain follow AP-7 past Barcelona and Girona .

D900 is the old north-south road replaced by A9. It's toll-free and goes through Perpignan city centre. It's often congested.

D117 follows the north edge of the Pyrenees, so from the west it's an alternative to A64 / A61.

N20 / N116 is the route from Andorra .

Get around [ edit ]

Walk: town centre is compact, and much is pedestrianised.

Buses are operated by Sankeo : their website has a route planner, timetables and maps. The network extends to nearby towns.

Taxis wait at the airport and railway station. Firms in town are Accueil Perpignan (+33 468 351515) and Alternative Taxi (+33 652 664318).

Driving: not if you can avoid it. Especially in summer, the streets are congested and central car parks are full.

See [ edit ]

Quartier Saint-Jean [ edit ]

Established south of the Basse River, Saint-Jean is the historic part of Perpignan. In the 11th century the counts of Roussillon established a fortress around the small church of Saint-Jean le Vieux. It's a lively part of the city largely composed of brick buildings with or without coating and small alleys and squares between them. Many streets are pedestrianized and lined by shops and restaurants.

Place de la Loge is the most famous square, and was known in the Middle Ages as Plaça dels Richs Homens (the square of the rich people in Catalan). It's surrounded by buildings of great importance during the time; Loge de Mer (court and commercial exchange), Palais de la Députation, and the city hall. In the middle stands "La Vénus au collier", a statue by painter and sculptor Aristide Maillol (1861-1944). Nearby Place de Verdun sits right next to the Castillet and around the corner is the Basse, surrounded by greenery.

In addition to walking around on your own, in the warmer half of the year there are guided walking tours departing from the tourist office, a tourist train going around the historical centre, and a boat with electric motor plying the Basse.

• Loge de Mer next to city hall was the medieval stock exchange and commercial chambers. It's now the Tourist Office.
• 42.6985 2.8954 4 Place de la République is the lively plaza at the heart of this district, lined with cafes.
• Centre d'Art Contemporain Walter Benjamin , Plaça del Pont d'en Vestit ( 100 m south of Musée Rigaud ), ☏ +33 468 663318 . Tu-Su 11:00-17:30 . Rotating exhibitions of contemporary art. Benjamin (1892-1940) was a German Jewish philosopher and art critic. He escaped occupied France to Port Bou, but the Spanish intended to deport him back to France, and he took an overdose rather than be handed over to the Nazis. Free . ( updated Jan 2024 )

Quartier de La Réal [ edit ]

This was the seat of royal power during the Kingdom of Majorca, and the district is also known by the name Castell Real . It's made up of the Royal Palace and the impressive citadel surrounding it and is a calm part of the city compared to the commercial parts. Some cultural institutions can be found here as well.

• 42.6974 2.8997 11 Natural History Museum , 12 Rue Font Neuve , ☏ +33 468 663368 . June-Sept daily 09:30-17:30, Oct-April Tu-Su 11:00-17:30 . Extensive collections of the mineralogy, flora and fauna of the Pyrenees. There are also sections with archaeological objects from ancient Egypt, and an ethnological collection from Oceania. Free . ( updated Jan 2024 )

Quartier Saint-Jacques [ edit ]

Jacques I d'Aragon ordered this eastern extension of the city in the 1260s, centred on the church of Saint-Jacques. For the next 250 years it was the Jewish quarter or "Call", but almost nothing remains of that. Nowadays it has many Roma and Maghrebi residents: on a good day it's raffish and cosmopolitan, but often it feels seedy and unsafe.

• Monument aux Morts de Perpignan 100 m east of Saint-Jacques was erected in 1924. It marks the south tip of Miranda Gardens, a ribbon of green along the line of the former city walls, arcing west towards the cathedral.

Do [ edit ]

• Théâtre municipal is on Plaza de la República, Box Office +33 468 663354.
• Cinéma le Castillet is at 1 Bvd Wilson next to Le Castillet.
• 42.696 2.9 1 La Casa Musicale ( L'Arsenal ), 1 rue jean Vielledent . Cultural center focusing on music of many genres with performances and courses. ( updated Mar 2023 )
• Saint-Estève XIII Catalan are a semi-pro rugby league team in Elite 1, the top French domestic tier. Their home ground is Stade Municipal (capacity 6000) 3 km northwest of town centre. The playing season is September-April.
• 42.6759 2.9025 4 Parc des Sports , Ave Paul Alduy , ☏ +33 468 623900 . Daily 07:00-22:00 . A sports complex 2 km south of the centre, with natural and synthetic playing pitches, two gymnasiums, a baseball stadium, a health course, a fitness area, a skate park and a climbing wall. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Espace Aquatique du Moulin à Vent is a 50 m indoor swimming pool northeast corner of Parc ds Sports.
• Espace Aquatique Arlette Franco is a 25 m pool next to Dragons Catalans stadium, at 2 Rue du Méridien.

Events [ edit ]

• Sanch procession has taken place every Good Friday since 1461. Penitents in caperutxas - pointy hoods - march the streets of the old town, starting from Saint-Jacques church, some of them barefoot. They carry life-size statues showing scenes of the passion of Christ.
• Sant Joan festival is a midsummer festival on St John's eve (23 June), with bonfires, fireworks and parades.
• Visa pour l'image is a photo exhibition in September for 15 days. The main venue is at Couvent des Minimes; several other venues are historic places not routinely open to the public.
• Jazzèbre jazz concerts are year-round, but the main festival is late Sept to early Oct.

Buy [ edit ]

• Marché de la Place de la République is a food and farmers market in the main plaza, Tu-Su 7:30-13:30.
• Marché de la Place Cassanyes has a bit of everything. It's 100 m south of Église Saint-Jacques, daily 07:30-13:00.
• Galeries Lafayette ( FNAC ), 1 Place de la Résistance ( opposite Castillet ), ☏ +33 468 352691 . Daily 10:00-19:30 . Three-floor department store with clothing, cosmetics, jewellery and other products. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Monoprix , 7 Rue de la Barre ( 50 m north of Place de la Republic ), ☏ +33 468 345373 . M-Sa 08:30-20:00, Su 09:00-19:30 . One of the main supermarkets downtown, with groceries, wellness and DIY products. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.699 2.8768 1 Biocoop Cosmos , 12 Ave de Prades , ☏ +33 468 540369 . M-Sa 09:00-19:00 . Organic and "eco-responsible" products. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6689 2.8812 2 Auchan ( Aushopping Porte d'Espagne ), Av d'Espagne , ☏ +33 468 681010 . M-Sa 08:30-21:30, Su 08:30-12:30 . Auchan hypermarket is the anchor store on Porte d'Espagne retail park. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Leclerc have a hypermarket south on Ave Victor Dalbiez and another north at the Poligon on Ave du Languedoc.
• Carrefour have five stores around town. The closest are north at 40 Ave Maréchal Joffre, and south at 16 Ave Pierre Cambres.
• Lidl have four supermarkets in town. One is 200 m north of the station (open M-Sa 09:00-20:00), the others are further out.
• Aldi have three branches, all edge of town.

Eat [ edit ]

The Roussillon cuisine is a variant of the Catalan cuisine, with ingredients from mar i muntanya - the sea and the mountains. Common ingredients include fish and seafood (the "fruits of the sea"), charcuteries, the "fruits of the land" like tomatoes, peppers, peaches, apricots, cherries and of course aioli (known as all i oli here).

Classics of the local cuisine include suquet (fish stew with saffron and tomatoes), esesxaida (red salad with peppers), llagosta i pollastre (dish based on lobster and chicken), bullinada (fish and seafood pot), llagostada (lobster simmered in olive oil with sofregit - sauce), or cargollada (barbecued snails).

Iconic products include botifarras (sausage) and fuet (dry sausages) but also anxoves (anchovies), a specialty of the city of Collioure, mongetes (white beans) and olives. For dessert there are bunyetes (beignets), coques or cocas (fruit pastries sometimes with ), crema catalana, le bras de gitan (Genoese cake filled with pastry cream), rousquille (cookies with anise) and mel i mato (goat or sheep's cheese with honey).

On the wine side, the region is famous for sweet wines including Banyuls, Rivesaltes, Muscat de Rivesaltes and Maury, and high quality table wines like Côte du Roussillon and Collioure.

Budget [ edit ]

• Quick de Perpignan , Ave d'Espagne ( opposite Holiday Inn ), ☏ +33 468 543580 . Daily 11:00-23:00 . Chain fast food place for burgers. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6982 2.8937 1 La Cafetière Catalane , 17 Rue de l'Ange , ☏ +33 468 561010 . M-Sa 08:00-19:00 . Tiny café serving coffee, tea and flavored hot chocolates. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Le Petit Comité , 24 Blv Georges Clemenceau ( 100 m west of Galeries Lafayette ), ☏ +33 468 342764 . M-F 07:30-14:30 . Inexpensive place with Italian, French and international fare. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7008 2.8924 2 Pizzeria Ponte Vecchio , Rue Rouget de l'Isle , ☏ +33 788 490687 . Tu W 12:00-14:00, Th-Sa, M 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00 . Friendly place for pasta and wood-fired pizza, outdoor seating. ( updated Jan 2024 )

• 42.6991 2.8966 3 Whateuteu! , 4 Rue Amiral Barrera , ☏ +33 468 285096 . Tu-Sa 18:00-00:00 . Burgers and steaks, also has a cocktail bar. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• La Carmagnole , 12 Rue de la Révolution Française ( south side of Campo Santo ), ☏ +33 468 354446 . M-Sa 12:00-14:00 . Local cuisine, majoring on seafood. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Café de la Source , 1 Rue Maréchal Foch ( opposite Centre d'Art Benjamin ), ☏ +33 468 342769 . Daily 07:00-02:00 . Trad brasserie with an inexpensive dish of the day. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Ô liban , 6 Rue Mailly ( 50 m north of Musée d'art Rigaud ), ☏ +33 621 177724 . Tu-Sa 10:00-15:00 . Lebanese restaurant with meze selections including vegetarian choices. ( updated Jan 2024 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• Le 17 , 1 Rue Cité Bartissol ( next to cathedral ), ☏ +33 468 385682 . M-W 12:00-13:45, Th-Sa 12:00-14:00, 19:30-21:30 . Quality French cuisine with daily specials. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7011 2.8908 4 Restaurant Les Saisons , 6 Rue Camille Desmoulins , ☏ +33 602 597414 . Tu 12:00-14:00, W-Sa 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:00 . French cuisine with meat, fish and vegetarian options. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7001 2.8951 5 Les Aristo , 3 Rue de l'Incendie , ☏ +33 468 351149 . W 19:30-21:30, Th-Su 12:00-13:30, 19:30-21:30 . International cuisine from wok to risotto. Brunch on Sundays. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Buffalo Grill , 343 Chemin du Mas Palegry ( next to Hôtel Première Classe Perpignan Sud ), ☏ +33 4 68 854012 . M-F 11:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00, Sa Su 11:30-23:00 . American-style diner for barbecue meat. ( updated Jan 2024 )

• 42.6989 2.8922 6 Hippopotamus , Place François Arago , ☏ +33 411 300665 . Daily 10:30-23:30 . Chain steakhouse with BBQ meat and burgers. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7053 2.8944 7 Casa Portuguesa , 36 Ave Palais des Expositions , ☏ +33 4 68 52 79 31 . Serving trad Portuguese tapas and main meals. It has a terrace and garden, so you can eat outdoors. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6642 2.9147 8 La Boucherie , Route d'Elne , ☏ +33 468 632071 . Daily 12:00-14:30, 19:00-23:00 . "The Butchery" also serves fish, and veggies can gnaw on a salad, but you're here for the meat. Mixed reviews and it's not worth driving out of town for, but it's just off D914 south ring road so it's handy for motorists. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Le Divil , 9 Rue Fabriques d'en Nabot ( behind Hotel d France ), ☏ +33 468 34 5773 . M-Sa 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:00 . Meat menu, from grills and burgers to tartar. ( updated Jan 2024 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• Les Antiquaires , Place Joseph Desprès ( 50 m south of Casa Xanxo ), ☏ +33 616 020105 . Th-Sa 12:00-13:30, 19:30-21:00, Su 12:00-13:30 . Great reviews for the classic French fare here. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7025 2.8933 9 La Galinette , 23 Rue Jean Payra , ☏ +33 468 350090 . W-Sa 12:00-14:00, 19:30-21:30 . French cuisine with a six or eight course seasonal tasting menu. 6 dish menu €75, 8 dish menu €85 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6881 2.8393 10 Le Yucca , 25 Allée des Chênes, Parc Ducup , ☏ +33 468 855654 , [email protected] . Su, Tu-Th 10:00-15:00, F Sa 10:00-15:00, 18:30-00:00 . Serving local and Med cuisine, it's in the west suburbs, handy for N116 and D900. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7001 2.8945 11 Casa Sansa , 3 Rue des Fabriqués Couvertes , ☏ +33 468 504801 . M 19:00-23:00, Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30, 19:00-23:00 . Founded by chef Jean-Marie Pujade, it's a local institution serving modern Catalan classics. ( updated Jan 2024 )

Drink [ edit ]

• O'Shannon , 3 Rue de l'Incendie ( next to Les Aristo ), ☏ +33 612 754239 . Tu-Sa 18:00-02:00 . Friendly Irish pub with beers from all over the world. Two large rooms but still very busy after work hours and in the weekend. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Jet Set , 4 Rue Labédoyère ( 50 m south of Place de la Republique ), ☏ +33 664 626277 . Th-Su 19:00-02:00 . Bar serving local wines with Catalan tapas, plus karaoke. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Le Tinc Set , 3 Rue du Marché aux Bestiaux ( 20 m south of La Galinette ), ☏ +33 612 518519 . M-Sa 18:00-02:00 . Tinc set means "I'm thirsty" in Catalan. It's a wine and tapas bar, sometimes with tasting events. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Wine: the lowlands around Perpignan produce Roussilon and Rivesaltes red, white and fortified (muscat) wines.
• Nitos Distillery makes rum and gin.

Sleep [ edit ]

• 42.6599 2.885 1 Première Classe Perpignan Sud , 313 Chemin du Mas Palegry , ☏ +33 4 68 542275 . Budget chain motel on the south outskirts with 70 small rooms. B&B double €60 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7958 2.8798 2 Tropic Hôtel , 3 Ave Gustave Eiffel, Rivesaltes , ☏ +33 468 076470 , [email protected] . Basic stopover hotel 3 km north of Rivesaltes off A9. It has 46 rooms, bar, restaurant and pool. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6938 2.8916 3 Hôtel Aragon , 17 Ave Gilbert Brutus , ☏ +33 468 540446 , [email protected] . Simple but friendly hotel near the royal palace. Rooms have bathrooms, tv and air con. B&B double €80 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7275 2.9054 4 Les Cottages de Perpignan ( Camping maeva Escapades ), 3252 Ave de la Salanque , ☏ +33 448 072351 . Well-maintained campsite open all year, with tourer pitches and chalets. It has a pool, a snack-bar, a petanque ground and playground. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.701 2.8839 5 Hostel HI Perpignan , 3 Allée Marc Pierre , ☏ +33 468 511602 . Great reviews for the welcome and comfort of this hostel with 49 beds, a kitchen, a library and an area to relax. ( updated Jan 2024 )

• 42.6992 2.8867 6 ibis Perpignan Centre Gare , 16 Cours Lazare Escarguel , ☏ +33 468 356262 . Accor chain hotel, clean and comfy, near main highway exits. B&B double €80 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7029 2.8854 7 Hotel Mondial ( formerly Arcantis ), 40 Blv Clémenceau , ☏ +33 468 342345 . Central hotel with 40 smallish rooms, with bathroom and tv. The hotel has a conference room. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Ibis Budget Perpignan Centre is a block north of the Mondial at 34 Ave Général Leclerc.
• 42.7002 2.8937 8 Hôtel de France , 28 Quai Nicholas Sadi Carnot , ☏ +33 4 68 848035 , [email protected] . Opened in 1833, with guests that have included Édith Piaf, Orson Welles and Salvador Dali, but this in now a rather ordinary central trad hotel. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, tv and air con, some with river views. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Hotel de la Loge is a clean simple place at 1 Rue Fabriqués d'en Nabot, 50 m south of Hôtel de France
• 42.6818 2.8939 9 Holiday Inn , 840 Ave d'Espagne , ☏ +33 468 851111 . Clean well-run friendly motel south of town. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6649 2.8855 10 Campanile Perpignan Sud , 12 Rue Alphonse Laveran, Porte d'Espagne , ☏ +33 468 567575 . Motel off D900 south of town, with 44 air-con rooms and a restaurant. It's often grubby. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Kyriad Perpignan Sud , 30 Rue du Docteur Koch ( behind Campanile Sud ), ☏ +33 468 881888 . Rather basic hotel with 50 rooms. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.7814 2.8994 11 Campanile Perpignan Aéroport , Ave Alfred Sauvy, Rivesaltes ( A9 / D900 / D83 interchange ), ☏ +33 468 385538 . Simple hotel 5 km north of airport. 64 rooms (three adapted to disabled guests) with bathroom or shower, tv and air con, some fittings tatty. B&B double €90 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• Ibis Budget Perpignan North is next to the Campanile Aéroport.
• Novotel Perpignan Rivesaltes is behind the Campanile and Ibis.
• 42.6978 2.8851 12 Hôtel Nyx , 62 bis, Ave Général de Gaulle , ☏ +33 468 348748 , [email protected] . Friendly hotel in the historical centre, with 17 rooms, all with shower, tv and air con. B&B double €100 . ( updated Jan 2024 )
• 42.6738 2.8868 13 Villa Duflot , Albert Donnezan roundabout, Ave Charles Deperet ( off D900 ), ☏ +33 468 566767 , [email protected] . Smart hotel edge of town in an industrial zone, but secluded from traffic. Spacious rooms, spa, pool, garden and good restaurant. B&B double €150 . ( updated Jan 2024 )

Connect [ edit ]

As of Jan 2024, Perpignan and its approach highways have 5G from all French carriers.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Perpignan is a reasonably safe city compared to larger and more populous ones. Being street smart and taking basic precautions should be enough to avoid problems.

However, some parts of the city, namely the district of Saint-Jacques, should be visited with caution, and ideally never on your own. No matter where you go in town, never wear jewellery or other signs of wealth. Also, don't leave valuables in parked cars.

• 42.6998 2.883 1 Main police station ( Hôtel de police nationale de Perpignan ), 33 avenue de Grande-Bretagne , ☏ +33 4 68 35 70 00 . ( updated Feb 2018 )

Stay healthy [ edit ]

• 42.7258 2.8887 2 Centre hospitalier de Perpignan , 20 avenue du Languedoc , ☏ +33 4 68 61 66 33 . Public hospital, which as the name reveals is the main hospital in Perpignan. There's an emergency room, and specialists of many healthcare areas. ( updated Feb 2018 )
• 42.6959 2.8652 3 Clinique Saint-Pierre , 169 avenue de Prades , ☏ +33 4 68 85 25 80 . A private emergency clinic, part of the Médipôle Sud-Santé group ( updated Feb 2018 )
• 42.7273 2.8754 4 Clinique mutualiste catalane , 60 rue Louis Mouillard , ☏ +33 4 68 63 73 73 . One of the main private clinics in town. ( updated Feb 2018 )

Go next [ edit ]

• Salses-le-Château 15 km north has a stonking great 15th century fortress.
• Canet-en-Roussillon 9 km east is mostly suburbs, but has a seaside strip with fine sand beaches, a port, arboretum and aquarium.
• Elne 12 km south has an 11th century Romanesque cathedral and the poignant Maternité Suisse site in Château d’En Bardou.
• Collioure 25 km southeast on the Côte Vermeille is an attractive small port immortalised by Fauvist painters.
• Banyuls and Cerbère southeast are on the old route across the border to Spanish Catalonia .
• Eus 35 km west is a small fortified village clinging to the rocks in the middle of scrubland and orchards.
• Abbaye Saint-Martin du Canigou teeters on a crag 55 km west.

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Things to do in Perpignan – A Visit to Pyrénées-Orientales and French Catalonia

Pyrénées-Orientales is located in Southern France between the Mediterranean sea and the Pyrenees. It’s also part of Catalonia, and its main city is Perpignan. There are tons of activities to do there, especially during summer. From relaxing at the beach and exploring natural wonders to visiting the Middle Ages castles, this part of France has a lot to offer. Listed below are some places you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Pyrénées-Orientales.

“Les Orgues” in Ille-sur-Têt

Prieuré de serrabona, abbaye de saint-martin-du-canigou, fontrabiouse cave, villefranche de conflent.

Tautavel is famous for being the place where some of the oldest human remains in Europe were found. Its museum boasts an impressive prehistorical artifacts collection and is super informative.

You can visit the Arago Cave where the remains were found, just know it’s not easy to access, and it’s often closed. Call the museum beforehand to check the schedule.

Tautavel is also a beautiful place to spend a couple of hours, enjoying the river, especially on hot days. It might get crowded pretty quickly, so prefer going in the morning. The Gorges du Gouleyrous is the best place to go if you want to swim. It’s easy to access, and you can do some rock climbing or just enjoy the water and the view.

In Ille-sur-Têt, you’ll find some of the world’s most incredible rock formations. It’s a unique landscape formed by water and five million years of erosion. The rocks are made of sand and clay and mostly come from the Pyrenees mountains. You can stroll around the area freely, it takes around an hour to visit the site. You can also arrange for a guided visit in English.

The entrance fee is 5 euros, and the site is open from 9:15 AM to 8 PM during summer, only in the afternoons during the winter.

Collioure is one of the last coastal villages before the border. Its small paved streets, handicraft shops, and cute pebble beaches make it the perfect destination if you want to visit a typical French village.

While in Collioure, you should walk around the village, check out some locals crafts, go by the beach and visit the royal castle. The castle was build in the 13 th century, the fort was added in the 16 th century. It can be visited from every day from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM in July and August (10 to 5 the rest of the year). The entrance fee is 4 euros. You’ll get a panoramic view of the village and the Mediterranean from the top. It’s also a museum where you can learn more about the city’s history.

If you like art, you can check out La Maison du Fauvisme, a cultural center. Many painters such as Matisse and Derain were inspired by Collioure settings. The city organizes thematic guided tours of Collioure based on Fauvism and the painters who visited the town.

Find more information on Collioure on their website.

Avoid restaurants there, the majority are tourists’ traps. You can drive there, but it might be hard to find a spot to park, especially during high season. Alternatively, you can take the train to get there.

Perpignan has a few sites worth visiting. The city center is a good start, strolling around the small paved streets. Don’t miss the Castillet, the city’s most iconic building. It used to be a prison and to be part of the city’s fortifications. The whole wall, apart from the Castillet, has been destroyed by developers as the city grew.

You should also visit the Palais des Rois de Majorque. This medieval palace was built in the 13 th century and is a reminder of Perpignan’s power over the Mediterranean basin during this period. It was turned into a citadel in the 15 th century. During summer, there are often events organized there, especially concerts and plays.

The entrance fee is 4 euros, and the palace is open every day from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM in July and August (10 to 5 the rest of the year). If you speak French, there are two free guided visits a day (11 AM and 3 PM).

Unfortunately, this part of France doesn’t have the best beaches, but it still is a popular beach destination for budget travelers. During the summer, beaches are usually packed and busy. There are tons of water activities you can do, or you can just relax at one of the many beach clubs along the coast.

Canet is the closest beach to Perpignan, it’s also the most crowded. If you want something wilder, check out Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, it’s mostly a residential area with small houses so no big concrete buildings like in Canet. If you go a bit further, you might even find a spot all to yourself. If you want something in the middle, you can spend some time in Argelès or Port Barcarès.

Built in the 11 th century in Boule D’Amont, Serrabona priory is a Roman Art masterpiece. From its marble gallery to its cloister, you’ll find fine sculptures at every corner. Most carvings feature fantastic animals, which is highly representative of Roman Art. The priory’s garden is also worth a look.

The entrance fee is 4 euros. It can be visited every day from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM in July and August (10 to 5 the rest of the year).

In Casteil, a small Pyrenean village, you’ll find the Saint-Martin-du-Canigou Abbey, built in 1009. The abbey is a jewel of Roman architecture and keeps many artistic treasures. After a short trek from the village, you’ll reach the Abbey, you can keep going to have a nicer view.

During summer, the abbey organizes guided visits every hour from 10 AM to 5 PM. The entrance fee is 6 euros.

This huge cave, discovered in 1958 by accident, is a great way to learn more about geology. A one-kilometer path has been installed for you to watch millennium-old rock formations, subterranean lakes, columns, and stalagmites. The views are impressive.

Open every day from 10 AM to 4:30 PM (6 PM in summer)

In Villefranche, you shouldn’t miss “Les Trois Grottes,” a group of three caves located within 500 meters of each other. Like Villefranche, they are part of a UNESCO World Heritage area. The caves are vast with fantastic views over impressive rock formations. They are easy to visit, the most frequented is the Grandes Canalettes cave. You can check out their official website for more information. The entrance fee is 10 euros.

In Villefranche, you can also visit Fort Liberia, a military fortress built by Vauban in 1680 and fortified by Napoleon the third. It’s connected by a steep staircase to the medieval city below, the only way to access it unless you have a 4 wheeler, it takes around 20 minutes on foot to reach the fort. The entrance fee is 7 euros, they also organize guided visits in English.

Below, in the village, you can have a look at the city’s fortifications built from the 11 th to the 19 th century and enjoy the quiet, rural atmosphere. The settings are perfect, surrounded by nature and mountains, Villefranche is a great place to disconnect for a while

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Visiting Perpignan and clueless where to start. Here's something that can help you out. This is an extensive map of attractions in Perpignan.

To begin with, this is a detailed interactive tourist map of the Perpignan which can be zoomed in for you convenience.

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Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Perpignan (France)

15 Best Things to Do in Perpignan (France)

For just a short time in the medieval period Perpignan was a European powerhouse. The Roussillon city just in from the Mediterranean was the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, and during these years it was bestowed with its characteristic russet-coloured medieval monuments made with bricks.

The old quarter is scattered with vestiges from this chapter, like the Palace of the Kings of Majorca or the menacing Castillet, which controlled traffic into this nexus of maritime trade. Now, Perpignan has a Catalan personality; many people speak the language, and you can tell from the architecture, food and culture than you’re at the meeting point between historical nations.

Lets explore the best things to do in Perpignan :

1. Palais des Rois de Majorque

The Kingdom of Majorca didn’t control Perpigan for much more than 70 years, from 1276 to 1349, but you can still see the mark it made on the city.

The palace occupies a large elevated space to the south of Perpignan’s old centre, and was built to be the seat of power for the entire kingdom.

It was started at the end of the 1200s and fuses romanesque and later gothic architecture.

The Cour d’Honneur courtyard with two tiers of galleries is marvellous, as are the chapels and the Great Hall where the court was held.

Every August the spacious courtyards and gardens welcome an event that reveals Perpignan’s Iberian soul: The Guitares au Palais runs for three days and puts on live guitar performances by flamenco, classical, pop and jazz artists.

2. Perpignan Cathedral

Started in the 1300s, this building didn’t actually become Perpignan’s cathedral until the beginning of the 1600s when the “see” was relocated here from nearby Elne.

Like nearly all of the city’s medieval architecture, it has a southern gothic design, and its construction was ordered by King Sancho II of Majorca.

If the exterior is modest the decoration inside the cathedral is rich, with plenty of things to keep your eyes peeled for:  Don’t miss the 14th and 15th-century altarpiece, the organ, which has painted panels and carvings from 1504 and most recommended of all is the “Dévot Christ” chapel, with a haunting wooden sculpture of Jesus on the cross crafted in the 1300s.

3. Perpignan Castillet

The city’s most photographed sight is the tough gatehouse that commanded the main entrance-way to the city from the 1300s onwards.

The tower goes back to the Kingdom of Majorca and was built with bricks and marble and crowned with outsized decorative crenellations.

When Perpignan came under French control the Castillet was enlarged by Louis XI who added the tallest part, the turret capped by a cupola, and in the 18th and 19th centuries it was converted into a prison.

There’s a museum about Catalan folk traditions inside and you can go up the spiral stairway with 142 steps to see Perpignan from the terrace.

4. Hôtel de Ville

Founded in the early 1300s under the orders of King Sancho I, the Hall of the Consuls was the ancestor of Perpignan’s city hall, where the city’s representatives would meet.

The hall, with its fabulous 15th-century coffered wooden ceiling, is still at the heart of the complex and is now used for weddings.

Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries the renaissance arcaded courtyard and the remainder of the administrative buildings were added.

In the courtyard you can pause to contemplate La Méditerranée, a bronze sculpture by noted 19th and 20th-century artist Arsitide Maillol.

5. Loge de Mer

John I of Aragon ordered this gothic civic building to be constructed in the late-14th century to help regulate sea trade: It was the stock exchange and sea consulate office, and so the hub of commerce in the old centre, but also housed the town hall for a time.

The building was expanded by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in the 16th century, which a plaque dated 1540 makes clear.

Another intriguing clue about the Loge de Mer’s function is the weathervane on the corner with a model of a galleon.

6. Musée des Monnaies et Médailles Joseph Puig

On Avenue de Grande Bretagne is the Belle Époque Villa Les Tilleuls, built in 1907 and designed by Viggo Dorph-Petersen, a Danish architect responsible for many palatial bourgeois houses and châteaux in and around Perpignan at the turn of the century.

Within is a diverting collection of coins bequeathed by Perpignan businessman Joseph Puig: The inventory is so large that only a tiny portion can be displayed (2,500 of 45,000!). The majority of these are Catalan in origin, minted in Barcelona, Valencia, Majorca and here in Perpignan, but there also examples from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.

7. Hôtel Pams

Tucked down Rue Emile Zola, this bourgeois mansion was transformed in the late-1890s for the prominent politician Jules Pams, who would become Minister of the Interior during the First World War.

From the outside it’s unprepossessing, but the interiors, rear patio and garden are opulently decorated in the art nouveau and art deco styles.

In the entrance hall, lit by a beautiful skylight, check out the portrait of Madame Jules Pams by the vaunted contemporary painter Jacques-Émile Blanche, and appreciate the “grand escalier”, made with onyx and stucco.

In the refined garden are statues of the Greek god Pan and Venus of the Myrtles.

8. Casa Xanxo

A Catalan gothic mansion in the old town, Casa Xanxo was built at the start of the 16th-century for Bernat Xanxo who was a rich merchant draper.

As you pass on Rue de la Main de Fer you can tell from the large marble archivolt entrance and sculpted stonework in the facade that this was a home designed to convey wealth.

The frieze above the doorway illustrates the battle between good and evil, evoking the Seven Deadly Sins.

Entrance is free and you can investigate the old warehouses and vaulted cellar for storing cloth.

On the first floor take a look around the ceremonial room which has wooden panelling and a coffered ceiling.

9. Fort de Salses

A few kilometres north of the city was the former border between Spain and France, which was the scene of some notoriously bloody battles and sieges.

The Spanish-built Fort de Salses witnessed many of these conflicts, and was commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs at the end of the 15th century.

At the time it was a wonder of military architecture, with walls 10 metres thick and a sophisticated system of scarps, bastions and corner towers, surrounded by a moat, that could keep attackers at bay for months on end.

It was under siege even before it could be completed and saw endless action until it became part of France after the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659.

10. Torreilles Plage Argeles

Anyone craving some R&R by the Mediterranean will be in luck as two of the top beaches in Languedoc-Roussillon are less than 20 kilometres away.

Starting in the south, Argelès is a wide tranche of silky white sand that seems to go on forever.

We rated it as one of the best beaches in all of France, and is unbeatable if you want peace and quiet as northern reaches are skirted by nothing more than pine forest.

A few minutes northeast is Torreilles with another long and straight ribbon on white sand.

Torreilles is also remote and serene, but has a clutch of beachfront restaurants and bars where you can hire sun loungers.

11. Castelnou

Not content with being in France’s reputable inventory of the “most beautiful villages” the rustic hillside settlement of Castelnou was also ranked as the country’s seventh-favourite village in 2015. Castlenou’s engaging stone houses are arranged on a little web of alleys with stairways entered via a medieval gate.

Check out the walls of these homes, as several have semi-circular medieval bread ovens grafted into them.

High above on a daunting ridge is the Vicomtal Castle, founded in the 900s and also under the control of the Kingdom of Majorca in the 15th century.

12. Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt

Just outside the town of Ille-sur-Têt is a bizarre natural rock formation with pillars of rock labelled as “orgues” or organs in a miniature version of Turkey’s Cappadocia or the USA’s Bryce Canyon.

These limestone columns are the product of four million years of erosion and have gnarled sides streaked with yellow and white.

You can go into the valley to walk among these otherworldly pillars or get a neat aerial view on the road from Ille-sur-Têt to Montalba.

Up in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Céret is a picturesque town with a modern art museum that a much larger city would be proud to call its own.

There are works by Matisse, Chagall, Soutine and Herbin, many impressionist pieces and a great summary fauvism.

The town’s artistic heritage goes back to the cubist movement, when, in the years before the war, it was a honey-pot for artists like Picasso, Braque, Masson, Juan Gris and Max Jacob, who travelled down from Montmartre and formed a community in the town.

14. USA Perpignan

As with most of south-western France the local sport of choice is rugby.

But right now Perpignan’s legendary rugby team, founded in 1902, is in the doldrums.

After playing in the premier Top 14 for decades USA Perpignan has found itself in the second tier, Rugby Pro D2. The support remains vibrant though,  and the 15,000-seater Stade Aimé Giral gets close to capacity crowds during the season from August to May, with big manifestations of Catalan pride.

USA Perpignan has more fan clubs than any other rugby team in France and is well-known for La Bronca, a chant sung when the opposition enters the pitch.

15. Cuisine

Just like everything else in Perpignan the food has a strong Catalan accent.

Many of the traditional restaurants in the city serve paella and other saffron-infused rice dishes.

If you’re an adventurous diner you can give a try to cargols à la llauna, which are snails bake or grilled and accompanied with aioli or vinaigrette.

If this piques your curiosity then you can pay a visit to L’Escargot de Roussillon on Place de la République, a specialty shop selling almost nothing but fresh snails and the herbs you need to cook them.

15 Best Things to Do in Perpignan (France):

• Palais des Rois de Majorque
• Perpignan Cathedral
• Perpignan Castillet
• Hôtel de Ville
• Loge de Mer
• Musée des Monnaies et Médailles Joseph Puig
• Fort de Salses
• Torreilles Plage Argeles
• Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt
• USA Perpignan

Perpignan Méditerranée Catalan soul

Perpignan, G.DESCHAMPS

Why visit Perpignan?

• Approved as a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire.
• Its heritage as the former capital of Majorca's kingdom.
• Its asserted Catalan identity.
• How close it is to the Mediterranean Sea and the Canigou, the Catalans' sacred mountain.

Visit the Palace of the Kings of Majorca

Did you know? Perpignan was the continental capital of the Majorcan kingdom from 1276 to 1349 .

  The Palace of the Kings of Majorca , a Gothic-style fortress completed in 1309, epitomises the small Mediterranean state's wealth. Its impressive silhouette towers over the city's old town. The oldest part of the palace and its hanging gardens plays host to events and concerts in summer. Go up the Tour de l’Hommage to enjoy views  of the Roussillon Plain, Canigou, Albères Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.

Perpignan, Annie Dalbera

Great ideas for Perpignan Méditerranée

Discover the coastal region of Perpignan Méditerranée #GrandSiteOccitanie . Blogger and influencer Mélanie (@babidji_mel) shares her top tips.

Explore Perpignan's other great attractions:  the Castillet , the city's iconic gateway (14th century),  Campo Santo  cloister-cemetery (14th century), the  Casa Xanxo  (16th century) housing the Heritage Centre and the sumptuous  Hôtel Pams  (19th century).

Unmissable festivals

Catalan perpignan.

Perpignan takes pride in its Catalan background with countless events rooted in the festival schedule. Treat someone to a book and rose for Saint George's Day on April 23rd. Good Friday plays host to an age-old ritual: the La Sanch procession. On June 24th, Saint John the Baptist's Day, summer is celebrated with a fire on the Canigou overlooking the Perpignan landscape!

You can always watch a sardana, the traditional Catalan dance symbolising union and fraternity.

Perpignan, Ville de Perpignan

Rigaud Art museum

Masterpieces galore.

Recently extended and fully renovated, the  Hyacinthe Rigaud Art Museum  is named after  the Catalan artist, a painter in King Louis XIV's court . Gothic, baroque and 20th century art collections spread over the 4300m2 exhibition galleries inside the interconnected Hôtel de Bailly and Hôtel de Lazerme. Star attractions include pieces by top modern artists:  Maillol, Picasso, Dufy  and more made Perpignan a popular go-to for post-war artists. 

Perpignan, R.Nourry

Perpignan station was proclaimed "el centre del món " (the centre of the world) in 1970 by Salvador Dalí, the father of Surrealism and Catalan icon. According to him the universe, keeping everything in proportion, has a similar structure to Perpignan station!  

Perpignan, H.ARGENCE - OT Collioure

Catalan boats

Maritime heritage to visit.

15 mins from Perpignan: the sea, its beaches and…  Catalan boats . They are as old as the Mediterranean civilisation. They were an integral part of the coastal landscape until the 60s. You can now see their elegant Latin sails during  regattas hosted by amateur associations. On the listed Anse de Paulilles (30 mins from Perpignan), visit the Boat Workshop  that keeps an inventory, restores and promotes this Catalan maritime cultural legacy.

Memorial sites

Catalan country, transit land.

40 mins from Perpignan, head to Tautavel : a Prehistory hotspot with human remains that are 450,000 years old. Meet our nomadic ancestors at the Tautavel Museum with some of the best collections in the world .

On the way back to Perpignan don't miss the Rivesaltes Camp Memorial : it detained thousands of exiled, deported or displaced people between 1940 and 1964. The Memorial is in a building designed by Rudy Ricciotti depicting this migratory traffic and internment conditions. A very moving place ...

Musée de la préhistoire de Tautavel, Musée de la préhistoire de Tautavel

Did you know?

The Tautavel Man  is the name given to a collection of human fossils discovered in the Caune de l’Arago, a vast cavity overlooking the Verdouble in the Tautavel area.  

Sunshine, lots of colour and light, friendly people, amazing monuments and the Mediterranean a stone's throw away: set your heart on Perpignan, the capital of North Catalonia.

Video 4:08 © Perpignan Tourisme.

How to get there

Perpignan is the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales, 2 hrs 10 mins from Toulouse and 2hrs from Barcelona.

• By car: on the A9 motorway or national RN20 and RN9 roads.
• By train: from Perpignan station with direct connections to Montpellier, Toulouse, Barcelona. Direct TGV trains from Lille, Paris, Lyon and Madrid.
• By plane:  from Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport.

Find out more

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Detailed Map of Perpignan

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Perpignan: France’s Little-Known City of Colours and Sunshine

By Ava Kabouchy – Photography & Travel Website

When Ava Kabouchy took the plunge and exchanged the Atlantic temperatures of Maine for the Mediterranean temperatures of southwest France, she also gained a completely different colour scheme. Based in Perpignan, she spent 3 years in this multi-cultural city and discovered the many layers of French culture and history.

Follow her, as she takes us through this both French and Catalan city and shows us its vibrant beauty.

I had never heard of Perpignan until I decided to spend my first nonworking year relearning French somewhere in France. I looked at a map of France online and my eyes went to the south, looking for a warm climate and I saw the name “Perpignan”. Then I looked at google images of Perpignan and saw palm trees, blue skies, and the emblematic Castillet, the city’s medieval gate, and my decision was made. Called by some the second sunniest city in France, Perpignan has 250 days of sunshine, and its own micro-climate. It might be overcast and grey in Toulouse, only a two-hour train ride away, but the sun will be shining in Perpignan.

Off I went to the University of Perpignan which offered reasonably priced, full-time courses with the possibility of a homestay. I landed with a retired French couple – the husband was a chef. My great good fortune! I enjoyed a variety of French dishes every evening, once including frogs’ legs once, and once for me. When my son asked me what I had to do within the family, I answered, “Well, uh, I have to make my bed in the morning.” No housework, no laundry, no cooking. I studied French with excellent professors, one of whom successfully spent eight hours on the study of the subjunctive mode in the grammar class and made it interesting, no small feat. So, my non-working years started with just studying and enjoying my new surroundings, the city’s medieval history, a compact city with its café culture, where all the attractions can be walked to, glimpses of Catalan and Gypsy culture, and a bus costing one euro to Collioure on the Mediterranean, an easy day trip. I had planned to stay in Perpignan just for the year. I stayed instead for three. Why leave?

When you visit Perpignan, you will not see any of France’s famous monuments, but you will see colours and more colours. Photography has been a passion of mine for a long time, and not noticing Perpignan’s vibrant colours would be impossible. Colours everywhere! The blue skies, the pastel colours of the architecture, the bricks of the Castillet, the garnet shaped theatre, L’Archipel, a vibrant red inside and out, designed to symbolize the area’s garnet industry, the fresh vegetables and fruits of the Casanyes Market.

For Lovers of History

If you are history buff, seeing the Palais des Rois de Mallorque, the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca, will intrigue you with its medieval history and immensity of its gothic architecture. The Palace was begun in 1274 as a fortress by the first King of Majorca, King Jaime II, who wanted to protect Perpignan’s growing prosperity. It is believed that Perpignan was settled around the beginning of the 10th century and became a commercial centre for the Roussillon region at that time.

The Musée Hyacinth Rigaud will delight you with wall size paintings of Louis XIV and even of the Sun King’s mother. Hôtel Pams, not a hotel but a mansion built between 1852 and 1872, was built by Pierre Bardou, who made his fortune by manufacturing cigarette papers, now owned by the city of Perpignan and open to the public.

New Surroundings, New Experiences, All in Vibrant Colour

Each September, Perpignan hosts an international photojournalism festival Visa Pour L’Image, showcasing reported and unreported news events around the world. The festival brings light to environmental problems around the world, how countries may or may not be addressing them, and the consequences of governmental inaction. It also highlights cultural practices, anything from weddings to the lives of nomadic tribes, senior women playing a game of basketball on one wall, and the harsh treatment of prisoners on another.

Surprises Around Every Corner

As you walk along Perpignan’s medieval streets, you may be surprised by what or whom you see. The city’s narrow streets attest to the summer’s heat, as the buildings were constructed close to one another, creating cooling shade.

Cuisine for Everyone’s Tastes

Along the Canal Vauban, which runs through the centre of Perpignan and is bordered by cafés and retails shops, you will also find Les Halles, an indoor market, which opened in 2017. Even before entering the large market area, you will be tempted by an assortment of gelati and French pastries at the entrance. Entering the main area of Les Halles, however, you might be overwhelmed by the choices awaiting you – which of the 27 stands to visit to purchase fresh fruits, meat, fish, oysters, shrimp, a huge assortment of olives and dried fruits, cheese from the Pyrenees, regional wines, and craft beers. Or you can choose among several restaurants and enjoy the cuisine of Morocco, Lebanon, Portugal, Catalonia, or just a well-made American cheeseburger.

Les Halles is most often crowded weeknights and weekends and there is an outdoor seating area and if you are early enough, you’ll find a comfortable sofa where you can sit and enjoy your meal with a glass of wine in the convivial atmosphere. You might even be able to learn to dance the tango or watch a football game with some local residents.

Cathedral of St. Jean the Baptist and the Flag of Catalonia

The 14th century Saint John the Baptist Cathedral built in gothic style architecture with one central nave is in the centre of Perpignan. Catalan culture and history are part of the history of this region of France, Roussillon. The red and yellow Catalan flag, symbolizing blood and battlefields, can be seen in numerous places in Perpignan and across the region.

Celebrating Perpignan’s Medieval Past

Next to the cathedral is the cloistered cemetery, Campo Santo, where a medieval village is recreated once a year with singing troubadours, music and dancing, knights in combat, and demonstrations of forging, leather crafts, and pottery making.

Casanyes Market – Off the Tourist Track and Well Worth a Visit

Open air markets can be found all over France. They make up much of the culture of towns and villages and are a social gathering place as much as a place to do one’s daily food shopping. If you are an early riser, you will see women and men setting up their stalls of fresh fruit, vegetables, huge platters of paella, olives, dried fruit, inexpensive clothing, jewellery, makeup, and a variety of every household gadget imaginable.

The meat markets are all halal, well stocked, organized, and clean. Fresh fish from the nearby Mediterranean is available every day. The market is open each day from 7AM to 1PM, and it is not just what you’ll find in the market, but also the people that you will see and hear – friendly women calling to customers, promising the best prices.

Some will even give you an extra carton of blueberries or whatever fruit you may be buying. I remember filling my bag with a variety of fruits and vegetables and when I handed it to the merchant to pay him, he looked through my bag and asked me for 6 €. The price would easily have been double in any supermarket and without all the conviviality of the Casanyes Market.

Two Distinct Cultures Living Side by Side

What makes this market unique from others, however, is the mingling of two very distinct very different cultures: Gypsy and North African. The Casanyes Market borders the St. Jacques neighbourhood. which had been a Jewish enclave for many years until around 1940 when the Gypsy community began moving in along with African families.

The two communities, Gypsy and North African, are often at odds and violence erupts from time to time, but they do agree on one important point – they will not allow the government to demolish the neighbourhood as it has proposed doing even with the promise of better housing. Not only the Gypsy and North African communities, but local people as well who wanted to preserve the neighbourhood were also joined by an assortment of local middle-class groups who were keen to preserve St Jacques’ architecture and cultural atmosphere.

Talks to make the neighbourhood a UNESCO site continue. These facts, however, do not hide the realities of life in St. Jacques. Unemployment is very high – some estimates put it at 90% and public assistance is the norm. School attendance is not a high priority for some Gypsy families, creating future problems for the children who reach adulthood with minimal reading and writing skills. Health is poor among many because of a diet of processed foods, resulting in obesity and other health problems.

“Work”, he told me, “We Need Work”

My French host family has a young Gypsy man as part of their family as he is the father of two of their great grandchildren. This young man and I had several conversations during my first year in Perpignan and he told me of the many difficulties he faced growing up in an impoverished family, and being unable to find work because his Gypsy background is looked down upon by many potential employers, adding to the limited schooling he had as an adolescent. He emphasized the need for work among the young people of his community and how near to impossible it is to find it. Problems of drugs and violence have found no solution.

A Lively Though Disenfranchised Community

The St. Jacques neighbourhood seems to wake up about 4PM when people congregate outside, children running everywhere, music being loudly played. Often as I passed entrances into the homes, I glimpsed unlit, narrow staircases and wondered what life is like for this community, the hardships it must face on a daily basis, and yet the people stay. Family ties are very strong.

Among the Gypsy community, there is a palpable sense of community and togetherness. A young woman is never seen walking alone within St. Jacques nor in the centre of Perpignan; she is always part of a group of friends, often going into town to the discount clothing store – and they are closely surveilled. These young women are easily recognizable, almost always dressed in black with their long, black hair piled high upon their heads.

The neighbourhood is not clean and is called unsafe by many. Trash and debris line the curbs. I had been warned many times not to walk through St. Jacques at anytime of day or night, but the colours, sights, and sounds were too intriguing for me to bypass – walls covered in colourful graffiti, people of all ages sitting outside on ragtag sofas and chairs, music playing, laundry hanging from front windows day or night. Not once, even late at night, however, did I ever feel threatened. One night, in fact, upon seeing my camera, two young Gypsy cousins came up to me and asked me about it, nothing more than that. We talked for a while about school, what they were studying, and how much they enjoyed playing football. And then I walked safely home

The Sanch: Procession of the Penitents

If you are in Perpignan on the Friday before Easter, you will see a tradition, which may take your breath away, dating back to 1416 when a Dominican priest, Vincent Ferrier, likened the suffering of Christ to the way criminals were treated at the time. One of his sermons on this topic resulted in the identity of executioners and condemned men being hidden to keep the condemned men from being identified by angry families, who might have taken justice into their own hands. Over the years, the procession of condemned men evolved into La Sanch, meaning The Blood, to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, and for many years, was forbidden by the Catholic Church as immoral, but La Sanch persisted and continues until today.

Peaceful Demonstrations

The violent protests in France beginning in November 2018 against proposed rises in gas and fuel prices were widely reported. People supporting and taking part in the demonstrations wore gilets jaunes, yellow vests, which became the symbol of the movement. Paris was the hardest hit, where businesses, cars, and stores along the renowned Champs Elysée’s were torched and vandalized.

During the three years I spent in Perpignan, I witnessed several political demonstrations, not one of which was violent – one for higher salaries and improved working conditions for teachers, another for the rights of immigrants, and one by the gilets jaunes, the yellow and vests and their demands.

One morning near the Castillet, I happened upon a large number of men and women dressed in workers’ blue uniforms performing an anti-Macron song and dance routine to protest the proposed changes by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to current government retirement policies. The atmosphere was clearly festive – no shouting, no hint of violence, just a group of people letting the government peacefully know how they felt, and letting the government know their feelings by singing and dancing.

Late one morning when I was in Perpignan centre, I heard car horns beating in rhythm and I waited to see what was happening, thinking that a well-known person or politician was in town, possibly Marine Le Pen, a political conservative with ambitions to become the next president of France, who might have been visiting politically conservative Perpignan. But the horns weren’t blowing to welcome anyone famous, but to announce that the gilets jaunes were coming through. The feeling was that of a party or festival, not at all unlike the dancers singing and protesting President Macron’s proposed policy of changes in retirement laws.

People were waving to the gilets jaunes, showing support in the way that so many things are done in Perpignan – joyfully and with much laughter. Later that day when I was back with my host family, we heard motorcycles, one after the other, passing in front of the apartment. Once again, the gilets jaunes, hundreds of them on motorcycles were passing by. Residents, including my host family and myself, went out onto the balconies to cheer them on and wave to our neighbours.

Take the One-Euro Bus

Perpignan boasts about being only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean coast, and particularly from the colourful, Catalan town of Collioure, where anchovies are caught, processed, and sold. Easily reached by car, but you can also take the one-euro bus, which will drop you off around the corner from the 14th century Château Royal overlooking one of Collioure’s beaches.

Hikers can walk along the Sentier Littoral, the coastal trail, as I did one day in a January and viewed the Mediterranean on one side and the Pyrenees on the other, with its snow-capped peak Canigou, 2,875 meters, almost 9,000 feet. By chance in one afternoon in a January, the temperature had reached 26C, 79F, much appreciated by someone like me from Maine or anyone looking for a bit of winter warmth.

The wines of Collioure are well known through-out France because of the unique dryness of the white wines made from grapes grown in dry, rocky soil on high, south-facing slopes overlooking the Mediterranean at an incline of 50%. Having driven past these slopes or hiked above them in the Alberes Mountains, I have wondered how people manage to harvest the grapes on such steep land, but they do, and the delicious wines whether white, red, or rosé are proof of their labour. So much about Roussillon is about colour, and in Collioure, you will find homes painted in pastel colours, paint left over from the paint of the fishing boats, and a summer festival celebrating Catalan music and culture.

A Vibrant City Not to be Overlooked

Perpignan is a small city, one for all seasons, one from which there is no exodus in August as there is from Paris or from the Dordogne region where large numbers of expats leave in January and February looking for warmer climes. Theatre, cinemas, wine tastings, open air markets, and just a simple stroll through the city’s winding streets will always give you something to see and to do, something to enjoy, something new to learn, something to celebrate.

Getting there

Barcelona’s El Prat is the nearest international airport. From there, you can take the metro for 4 euros or a taxi for about 25 euros to Sants train station. The trip by train takes about one and a half hours, and the train goes from Barcelona to Perpignan three times a day. Regular flights and trains leave from Paris as well.

Where to stay

Hotel de la Loge is located right in the centre of Perpignan, across from the tourist office where the English-speaking staff will help you with tour arrangements and which sites to visit. Hotel de la Loge is a favourite among visitors to Perpignan and is located on one of the city’s typical narrow streets, and the setting is quiet.

Where to eat

My reaction to this is – anywhere and everywhere. All kinds of cuisine can be found in Perpignan and among my favourites is L’Arago on the Place L’Arago, a short distance from Hotel de la Loge. A very pleasant outdoor seating area is available and there are many delicious choices on the menu.

About Ava Kabouchy

Ava is the author of the recently published “Where in the World is Grammie Now?”, a book for young readers to teach them about Saudi Arabia, a country not often studied in middle school curricula. She has also authored a book on her four years in Saudi Arabia:  “Wanderlust, A New Lease on Life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.

Ava makes her home in southwest France and on a remote island off the coast of Maine, USA.

Find out more about Ava Kabouchy on her website.

• Perpignan Tourism website
• Perpignan on Occitanie’s Tourism website
• Perpignan on Wikipedia

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