Must-sees around Collioure

Walking along the coastal path !

14 min by car

From Argelès to Cerbère, or even Cadaquès

The coastal path is a beautiful 32 km walk from Argelès-sur-Mer to Cerbère.
You’ll pass through Le Racou, Collioure, Port Vendres, Cap Béar, Paulilles and Cerbère…
You’ll discover beaches, coves, villages, heritage sites and a host of picturesque landscapes.

Swimming at Le Racou !

13 min by car

Argelès beach, a favourite with the locals

Le Racou is the beach for the locals! And with good reason, Le Racou is a great place to live, with a lively little district full of restaurants and bars where conviviality is the order of the day!
Barefoot, we walk past the colourful houses facing the sea, with trees all around and tasteful decorations that add to their charm! The particularly charming beach, hidden behind the little houses, is haven-on-earth for summer bathing! It is also the departure point for the coastal path that runs all the way to Cerbère.

Discover the other must-sees in Argelès-sur-Mer:

• Valmy Park
• Port Argelès
• The otwer of La Massane
• The seafront promenade
• Nature reserves

We’re visiting Port-Vendres !

5 min by car

The small Catalan fishing port

Stop off at Port Vendres to admire the boats and eat fresh fish in the sunshine in this warm Mediterranean Catalan fishing port! The Charles Rennie Mackintosh trail is also well worth a visit.

Discover the other must-sees in Port Vendres:

• The fish market
• The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Visitor’s Centre
• The hamlet of Cosprons
• Cap Béar

A stopover at Anse de Paulilles

12 min by car

The old dynamite factory

At the Paulilles site, we’re going back in time to 1870, when workers were employed at this former dynamite factory, with 32 buildings devoted to the plant.
Today, the site has been completely refurbished and is now a large park where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll, with a garden planted with trees and a museum displaying archives of photos taken at the time.

It’s also a place of remembrance, since there is also a Catalan boat workshop there, to keep the tradition alive. Tours can be arranged on request. You’ll find it just before you reach the beach.
The last stop on our journey is Paulilles, where we enjoy the beautiful beach, swimming and relaxing in the sun! The Paulilles site is classified Natura 2000.

A walk in Banyuls-sur-Mer !

9 min by car

In the footsteps of Aristide Maillol

Following in Aristide’s footsteps, we tried out the “Artistide Maillol trail”, a free walking tour that took us around the town, with explanations and hidden little places we might not otherwise have come across!
The Biodiversarium, the aquarium in Banyuls, is a must-see if you want to find out more about the marine world of the Mediterranean.
You can then take a relaxing break by combining your visit to the Biodiversarium with a ticket to visit the Mas de la Serra Mediterranean garden. It’s a little botanical paradise to explore, with species that are local or native to regions with a Mediterranean climate. The combined ticket for the 2 sites can be purchased in advance at the Biodiversarium or the Botanical Garden.

Other must-sees in Banyuls-sur-Mer:

• The “Vendanges en fêtes” event
• Wine tastings and winegrowers’ aperitifs
• The coastal path

Discover the underwater trail

7 min by car

From Peyrefite beach

Departing from Peyrefite beach, equipped with our flippers, masks and snorkels, we explore the seabed of the Cerbère Banyuls marine nature reserve. The magic of aquatic flora and fauna is yours to discover!
You’ll need to be in good shape to tackle this 500-metre round trip aquatic hike, with 5 observation stations along the way!

Make sure the sea is not too rough or overcrowded.

Explore the atypical town of Cerbère !

With its street art tunnel and Belvedère

Cerbère at the tip of the Vermeilles coast is a surprising place!
As you walk through the centre of the village, you’ll discover an artistic treasure trove, the Cerbère Street Art Tunnel. It’s an expression of pure creativity, and we love it!
The Belvedère du Rayon Vert, a reinforced concrete structure in the shape of an ocean liner, surprised us as we passed by! It’s an impressive and unusual building designed by architect from Perpignan, Louis Braille! A timeless place open to visitors.

Other must-sees in Cerbère:

• The international train station
• The transbordeuses
• The Cerbère Banyuls marine reserve
• The coastal path
• The Retirada trails