Cultural Outings
The Pyrénées-orientales offer many possibilities for discovering their heritage by means of chateaux, abbeys, cloisters, chapels, fortified cities, museums of tradition or art, concerts and other festivities.
For those who love Roman art will find it a real paradise with a choice of abbeys churches and cloisters, and little chapels in every corner of the department, each as beautiful and as unique as the next. The best known are Saint Martin du Canigou, the priory of Serrabone and Saint Michel de Cuxa
Discover the historic past of chateaux, forts and fortresses, often restaured by Vauban, or simply ruins. Examples are the Fortress de Salses which has a unique geographical situation; the Cathare Castles, often perched on the tops of mountains; The Bellegarde Fort at Le Perthus on the Spanish border and Fort Lagarde at Prats de Mollo which offers a historic pageant throughout the summer. There are also Guard towers dotted around the department.
Saint Martin du Canigou
Streets in Castelnou
Fortified cities such as Villefranche de Conflent, with its Fort Liberia,, the unforgettable Castelnou, Mont Louis and the royal chateaux of Perpignan and Collioure are also worth a visit.
There are many small museums which illustrate Catalan life, history and old crafts and trades, and also the more important museums, the Museum of Modern Art at Ceret and the Museum of Prehistory at Tautavel.
Music has not been left out and there are organ concerts at the abbey of Arles sur Tech, the festival Pablo Casels in Prades and the Music Festival at the Chateau of Valmy.
Not forgetting the Festival of caricatures at St Esteve, and Visa pour L’image at Perpignan.
On a technical note there are the Solar ovens at Mont Louis and Font Romeu-Odeillo.
Priory of Serrabone
Cathare Castle of Quéribus
Solar oven at Odeillo