Nice Towns in the Pirynees
Nov 5th, 2008, 05:09 PM
#2
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We stayed in Coulliore when driving between those two cities. It's a beautiful and peaceful beach town which had attracted Henry Matisse to live there.
We enjoyed having Zarzuela for dinner in one of the restaurants along the well known sandy beach.
We also liked Perpignan but it's more of a nice Catalonian city rather than a beach town.
We enjoyed having Zarzuela for dinner in one of the restaurants along the well known sandy beach.
We also liked Perpignan but it's more of a nice Catalonian city rather than a beach town.
Nov 5th, 2008, 06:59 PM
#4
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You really don't venture into the Pyrénées if you are driving from Barcelona to Carcassone in Languedoc-Roussillon. It's barely a 3-1/2 hour drive on a bad day. Are you thinking about actually spending some time in the Pyrénées? If so, then you will have to head inland.
Nov 5th, 2008, 07:36 PM
#7
Engoma, are you meaning the mid-Pyrenees?
Regions à la carte Southwestern France
Region at a glance
.
" Major city: Toulouse
Beautiful landscape of hills, river valleys, and red stone.
Fortified villages with narrow streets and cobblestones.
Grand churches
Pre-historic centers"
if so, there are many medieval villages to stay.
Conques, Cordes, are a few and we stayed at the perche village of St Cirq-La-Popie, and tho it is crowded as most beautifiul villages are like Carcassone in the day time, at night it is all yours. We were the only ones dining on a balcony while soft falling rain fell.
The Cahors red wines were wonderful and inexpensive, the cassoulet, and the armagnac and we toured where they make the roquefort
cheese.
Regions à la carte Southwestern France
Region at a glance
.
" Major city: Toulouse
Beautiful landscape of hills, river valleys, and red stone.
Fortified villages with narrow streets and cobblestones.
Grand churches
Pre-historic centers"
if so, there are many medieval villages to stay.
Conques, Cordes, are a few and we stayed at the perche village of St Cirq-La-Popie, and tho it is crowded as most beautifiul villages are like Carcassone in the day time, at night it is all yours. We were the only ones dining on a balcony while soft falling rain fell.
The Cahors red wines were wonderful and inexpensive, the cassoulet, and the armagnac and we toured where they make the roquefort
cheese.
Nov 6th, 2008, 02:34 PM
#8
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Engoma71,
I've taken the direct drive from Barcelona to Carcassone, north through Perpignan to Narbonne then west to Carcassone.
As Robert says, the drive isn't that long at all, but if you really do want to find a beautiful and romantic little town for an overnight... My choice for on that route would be truly charming and unspoiled Ceret, just a short detour west (about 8 km.) on the D 115 from the A 9/E 15 between the Spanish border and Perpignan.
There's just so much to like about this atmospheric cherry town, a jewel in Roussillon which was a "second home" to Picasso. It's endowed with nice shops, an outdoor market, a couple of fine restaurants (Les Feuillants, La Terrasse au Soleil) and a splendid small Museum of Modern Art which has a fine collection of Fauvist, Cubist paintings and a wonderful collection of Picasso ceramics.
www.musee-ceret.com
I even find it even more inviting than Collioure on the coast simply because it's slightly off the beaten path and feels to me more authentic and certainly less tourist soaked in summer. It also has a strong Catalonian feel to it.
www.ot-ceret.fr (unfortunately, in French only)
When I return, I'd like to overnight at one of two pretty hotels:
at the Mas Trilles, which is a 17th century residence surrounded by wooded gardens. It has a pool and rooms with terraces. It's a Karen Brown selection and a member of Romantik hotels.
www.le-mas-trilles.com
or in low season (more affordable tariffs) at La Terrase au Soleil, also a restaurant, which is a member of Relais du Silence.
www.terrasse-au-soleil.com
I've taken the direct drive from Barcelona to Carcassone, north through Perpignan to Narbonne then west to Carcassone.
As Robert says, the drive isn't that long at all, but if you really do want to find a beautiful and romantic little town for an overnight... My choice for on that route would be truly charming and unspoiled Ceret, just a short detour west (about 8 km.) on the D 115 from the A 9/E 15 between the Spanish border and Perpignan.
There's just so much to like about this atmospheric cherry town, a jewel in Roussillon which was a "second home" to Picasso. It's endowed with nice shops, an outdoor market, a couple of fine restaurants (Les Feuillants, La Terrasse au Soleil) and a splendid small Museum of Modern Art which has a fine collection of Fauvist, Cubist paintings and a wonderful collection of Picasso ceramics.
www.musee-ceret.com
I even find it even more inviting than Collioure on the coast simply because it's slightly off the beaten path and feels to me more authentic and certainly less tourist soaked in summer. It also has a strong Catalonian feel to it.
www.ot-ceret.fr (unfortunately, in French only)
When I return, I'd like to overnight at one of two pretty hotels:
at the Mas Trilles, which is a 17th century residence surrounded by wooded gardens. It has a pool and rooms with terraces. It's a Karen Brown selection and a member of Romantik hotels.
www.le-mas-trilles.com
or in low season (more affordable tariffs) at La Terrase au Soleil, also a restaurant, which is a member of Relais du Silence.
www.terrasse-au-soleil.com
Nov 6th, 2008, 03:20 PM
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Thanks for the update, Pvoyageuse.
It's really strange that it's still listed in my English version of the '08-'09 Pudlo restaurant guide. I had hoped the English version would be as up to date as the French!
I see the web page is no longer up.
It's really strange that it's still listed in my English version of the '08-'09 Pudlo restaurant guide. I had hoped the English version would be as up to date as the French!
I see the web page is no longer up.
Nov 6th, 2008, 09:45 PM
#11
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For you Maribel :
http://www.lhotellerie.fr/lhotelleri...euillants.html
The name still exists but the hotel-restaurant has unfortunately nothing to do with the original version !
Next time you azre in the area, try L"Hostellerie de Vivès" between Le Boulou and Ceret, it is amazing !
http://www.lhotellerie.fr/lhotelleri...euillants.html
The name still exists but the hotel-restaurant has unfortunately nothing to do with the original version !
Next time you azre in the area, try L"Hostellerie de Vivès" between Le Boulou and Ceret, it is amazing !
Nov 9th, 2008, 11:30 AM
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Engoma
If you prefer a mountain town, drive up from Perpignan to Mont-Louis via Prades and settle for Villefranche de Conflent, Font-Romeu, Formiguères, Les Angles or Mattemale. You can drive to Carcassone via the Aude Valley and Axat.
You don't say in which season you'll be travelling - there is snow in winter !
If you prefer a mountain town, drive up from Perpignan to Mont-Louis via Prades and settle for Villefranche de Conflent, Font-Romeu, Formiguères, Les Angles or Mattemale. You can drive to Carcassone via the Aude Valley and Axat.
You don't say in which season you'll be travelling - there is snow in winter !
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