Discover Collioure

COLLIOURE: STRAIGHT UP

Région	Languedoc-Roussillon
Départment	Pyrénées-Orientales
Arrondissement	Céret
Canton	Côte Vermeille
Land area	13.02km2
Population	2,763
Altitude	0m - 655m (avg. 10m)
Postal code	66053 / 66190

RUE DU SOLIEL

by Matisse

Collioure is nestled amongst the rocky coastal coves, close to the Spanish border where the foothills of the Pyrénées meet the sea.

The town boasts cobbled streets of amazing colour, countless art galleries, wonderful restaurants and cafés and numerous markets and shops.

And for those seeking sand and surf, there are no less than four beaches.

But Collioure is perhaps best known for its artistic heritage.

Things to see and do in Collioure

Architecture

• Le Château Royal XIII - XVIIIè The Château Royal was built on Roman foundations and is the centre of Collioure's medieval fortification.
• Le Fort Saint Elme XVI The fort was built in 1552 by the Spanish King Charles V and is on a hill overlooking Collioure and Port-Vendres.
• La Tour de Madeloc XIII Get a breathtaking view from this tower 652 m above sea level. It was once used as a watch tower for the Spanish coast. Today it is a television tower!
• Eglise Notre Dame des Anges XVII The church's original foundations were built in the sea. Since then it has seen more extensions than DIY television show. The belfry was built in the Middle Ages, the nave in 1684 and it was given extensive renovations in 1672 and 1818.
• Cloître du Couvent des Dominicains XIV The cloister once fell victim to illegal art trade, but was bought back by the municipality in 1992 after it had been discovered in Anglet. Now eleven of its arches are in the garden of Parc Pams.
• Catalans Dragons Rugby League Club The Catalans, from Perpignan, play in the British Super League against the likes of St Helens and Wigan, from April from January to September.

For a full listing, see Discover France - Specialist in Active Vacations Exclusively in France
http://discoverfrance.com

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Restless?

• Boat trips and fishing There are daily fishing trips to nearby Cap Bear and passenger shuttles run to Port-Argelès. http:www.cip-collioure.com
• Le Petit Train Departs from the car park by La Poste all day. See vineyards, Fort Saint Elme, Port-Vendres and then return along the coast. Commentary is in French, English, German, Spanish, Catalan and Dutch.www.petit-train-touristique.com
• Bus Tours From June to September excursions are available into Spain and Andorra.
• Market days Wednesday and Sunday mornings in Collioure, Saturday morning in nearby Port-Vendres.
• Guided walks Available in April, May, June, September and October. Walks leave from Tourist Offices and guides can take you around the Côte Vermeille hinterland where you can indulge in wine tasting and "Croquants" (local biscuits).

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Culture vulture? (And hungry?)^{(*See note)}

• Modern Art Museum Frequent exhibitions by comptemporary artists; located on Route de Port-Vendres.
• Art Trail A Fauvism art trail through Collioure is well signposted and easy to explore.
• Wine caves Visit the numerous local wine caves for tasting and guided wine and gastronimic walks
• Windmill Visit a restored windmill, now used for grinding olives. Enjoy the great harbour views.
• Local anchovy and olive factories Free to visit in Collioure. Watch the produce being prepared and films about the Collioure's fishing history.

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Around Collioure^{(*See note)}

• Port-Vendre Visit La Criée daily fish market or drive to the spectacular Cap Bear Lighthouse.
• Château Valmy Eagle Farm Watch interactive eagle shows.
• Céret This historic mountain village has a market on Saturdays, a cherry festival in May and a Museum of Modern Art.
• Mountain walks There are easy walks just behind Collioure, or guided tours are available to Tour Madeloc or into the Pyrénées and Alberes mountains. Guide books are available locally.
• Banyuls Aquarium In nearby Port-Vendres gives an excellent insight into Mediterranean sea life.

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Collioure Day Trips^{(*See note)}

• At Cadaqués in Spain (2 hour drive), you will find Dali's home. On further, you'll come to the Dali Museum at Figueres.
• The Tet Valley in the Pyrénées is great for exploring off the beaten track.
• For the adventurous: Drive up into the Pyrénées or Alberes Mountains and climb, walk or scramble through numerous gorges and valleys.
• The mountain-top town of Carcassonne is less than 1 hour's drive.

* Source: http://www.collioure.com.au/sights.htm