Les Cluses, Ceret area, south of france
What to do
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The area is great for walking and cycling holidays, it is very rural and ideal for those seeking a countryside retreat
or to relax by the lakeside. The beach is only a 45 minute drive away and then, of course, there is
the Roussillon wine. The many wine cellars and co-operatives offer wine tasting.
Sports in the area include horse riding, fishing and water sports (the lakes and rivers are within 10 minutes). There is
tennis in town and golf within a 30 minute drive. Go carting is within a 45 minute drive in the winter the
Pyrenees offer skiing and snow boarding, about a 90 minute drive away.
How to get here
By Plane Fly to Perpignan (30 mins away), Girona or Carcassonne (1.5 hours away) from Stansted, or from Ireland fly to either Gerona or Carcassonne (all by Ryanair). Air Lingus also flies to Barcelona or Toulouse (2.5 hours). Car hire is easily available at each airport.
By Rail Collioure: 20kl
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The Region
The region is ideal for those enjoying beautiful countryside scenery, walking, wine-tasting and
good food. There is sun for over 300 days a year and the area offers endless cultural and recreational facilities.
The villa is 7 minutes from the Spanish border, 20 -25 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea
coast. ( Collioure, Argeles, Banyuls etc.) 90 minutes from Barcelona and skiing in Les Angles
in the winter is 90 minutes away.
Many wine-growing chateaux are available to visit throughout the Languedoc-Rousillon region and
there are many smaller caves, cellars and co-operatives offering tasting and good value.
Les Cluses / Ceret is a beautiful Catalan town in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Picasso
painted here as did Matisse and many other famous artists. Today there is a superb Art
Museum in the town. All kinds of activities from petanque to bull-fighting are carried on.
The market in Ceret is on Saturday and Tuesday evening ( summer only) Don't miss it.
A beautifully detached villa with detached gite and swimming pool in a peaceful Pyrenean
village with views of Mount Canigou and near Ceret - ideal for exploring the
countryside and beaches, providing visitors with both the
dramatic and the idyllic. From the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees to the sun-drenched
beaches on the Mediterranean coast there is something to appeal to all tastes. The Ariege
Valley and the Pyrenees Orientals provide a captivating route through Cathar country and
the Cerdagne Valley on the way to the Med. For the sport-minded, choose from kayaking and
windsurfing to climbing up to high Pyrenean lakes and peaks. There are also equestrian
tours, fishing opportunities, and several superb golf courses.
Visit the medieval city of Perpignan which used to be the second city of Catalonia (after
Barcelona) until falling to Louis XIII's French army in 1642. Then there's the pretty
seaside village of Collioure in the heart of Matisse country. Its sheltered natural harbor
has become a summer magnet for tourists.
Languedoc-Roussillon is known for powerful and strongly seasoned cooking. Garlic and goose
fat are generously used in traditional recipes, though modern chefs are skilled at producing
traditional tastes in lighter formats. The region is also famous for wine-producing, and for
its seafood.
Our beautifully restored stone house in a peaceful Pyrenean village with views of Mount Canigou
and near Ceret is ideal for exploring the sun-drenched countryside and beaches.
Collioure area
Collioure, the gem of the Cote Vermeille, is a pretty town with its golden beaches
yet sheltered by the mountains behind, providing many opportunities for walking and
hiking. Matisse and Derain, the great Fauvist artists who spent many summers in Collioure and
for lovers of their work you will find many scenes still recognisable today.
The locals are fiercely proud of their Catalan heritage, with the language still part of everyday life.
The traditional dance (The Sardane) can be seen during the many summer displays and fetes.
There is a lively market every Wednesday and Sunday morning, with an abundance of local produce.
The most spectacular celebration of the summer is on St. Johns Eve (late June) when the local children carry the flame from
Canigou (the sacred mountain) to ignite a great bonfire on the beach, ending with an
fireworks display over the bay - a great carnival atmosphere for all the family.
During the season there is a tourist train (the Little Yellow Train) which travels through the villages and
to the neighbouring town of Port Vendres - not to be missed! Another treat is a trip by yacht round
the bay, where you may see Canigou, still snowcapped up to mid-summer.
Day trips to Barcelona, or the Dali Museum in Figueras - although with 4 beaches in Collioure, art galleries
and plenty of enticing little shops and boutiques in pretty cobbled streets, with cafes and
restaurants everywhere, you may not find time!
Ah well, there's always next time .........
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Please click here for a full photo gallery
of the region
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