Pyrénées-Orientales lies in southern France, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. When choosing a destination within this diverse landscape, it helps to focus on specific interests: high plateaus and mountain activities, wine routes, architectural history or thermal waters. This makes it possible to plan your trip around what you want to discover.
High plateaus and mountain landscapes
Cerdagne and Capcir are high plateaus between 1,300 and 1,500 metres. The Cerdagne feeds the Sègre, while the Aude originates in the Capcir. As a high-altitude plain, the Capcir is characterised by mountain villages, large lakes and pine forests. In Pyrénées-Orientales, peaks range from a few hundred metres to 2,921 metres at Pic du Carlit. Hiking, mountain biking, climbing and skiing are among the region’s mountain activities. If you are looking for a focus for your stay, you can weigh up exploring the landscape against taking part in sporting activities.
Wine routes with different highlights
The IGP Côtes Catalanes extends across the entire wine-growing area of Pyrénées-Orientales and includes 118 communes. The wine routes each have their own character: in the Vallée de l’Agly, a long history of wine-growing and agriculture comes together with gastronomy. The route through the Vallée de la Têt leads to local producers and appellations. Along the Vallée du Tech, wine tastings are complemented by villages, landscapes and the producers’ expertise. This comparison offers a practical guide to planning: the Agly route combines wine with agricultural heritage and gastronomy, the Têt route focuses on producers and appellations, and the Tech route pairs tastings with impressions of local places and landscapes.
Fortifications, architectural history and mountain traditions
The World Heritage site Fortifications of Vauban comprises twelve component sites, including Mont-Louis and Villefranche-de-Conflent. The citadel of the Château des rois de Majorque was also built by Vauban. The department’s architectural heritage includes churches, chapels and other religious buildings in styles ranging from the Via Domitia to contemporary creations. Around the Canigou Massif, historic iron metallurgy and Catalan forges bear witness to the area’s former use. Traditional pastoral heritage also includes fountains, chapels, washhouses and shepherds’ shelters associated with traditional knowledge. These themes offer different ways to explore history, from fortifications and religious architecture to work and daily life in the mountains.
Season, thermal waters and rail travel
The Regional Natural Park includes eight alpine and Nordic ski resorts, including Les Angles and Font-Romeu. The resorts offer downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledging and dog-sled rides. They operate seasonally; check operating conditions and season dates before travelling. If you are looking for an alternative to winter sports, the Regional Natural Park has five facilities offering access to naturally warm water or thermal waters: Molitg-les-Bains, Vernet-les-Bains, Saint-Thomas, Dorres and Llo. Opening arrangements and treatments may change, so check these details before visiting.
The Train Jaune connects Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol through the landscapes of Conflent and Cerdagne. Travelling in an open carriage offers views of the Pyrenean massifs; whether an open carriage is available may depend on operating conditions. You should also check the service route and operating conditions before travelling. The possible experiences therefore differ not only by theme, but also by season and operational arrangements.
Then choose a specific destination based on the experiences you would like to include in your trip.
Discover more destinations: Argeles-Sur-Mer, Banyuls-Sur-Mer, Boule-D'amont, Cabestany, Caixas, Camélas, Cerbère, Collioure, Corbère-Les-Cabanes, Err, Estavar, Eyne, Fenouillet, Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, Ille-Sur-Têt, La Sacristie, Laroque-Des-Albères, Le Barcares, Le Boulou, Les Angles, Llauro, Matemale, Mont-Louis, Montesquieu-Des-Albères, Pollestres, Rivesaltes, Rodes, Saint-Cyprien-Plage, Saint-Laurent-De-La-Salanque, Saint-Michel-De-Llotes, Saint-Paul-De-Fenouillet, Sainte-Marie-Plage, Sorède, Torreilles, Torreilles-Plage, Tresserre, Perpignan, Ceret, Vinça, Pas De La Casa, Ortaffa, Latour-De-Carol, La Cabanasse, Canohès, Castelnou, Claira, Vernet-Les-Bains, Saillagouse, Prats-De-Mollo-La-Preste, Osséja, Bolquère, Banyuls-Dels-Aspres, Amélie-Les-Bains-Palalda, Alenya, Taulis, Pia, Saint Cyprien, Saint-Laurent-De-Cerdans, Fuilla, Thuir, Tordères, Estagel, Arles-Sur-Tech, Prades, Cassagnes, Saint-Hippolyte, La Llagonne, Saint-André, Maury, Molitg-Les-Bains, Saleilles, Villeneuve-De-La-Raho, Passa, Saint-Estève, Maureillas-Las-Illas, Terrats, Palau-Del-Vidre, Elne, Toulouges, Pézilla-La-Rivière, Le Soler, Brouilla, Saint-Pierre-Dels-Forcats, Port-Vendres, Baixas, Latour-De-France, Planèzes, Bages, Bélesta, Montner, Llupia, Saint-Nazaire, Bompas, Corneilla-La-Rivière, Espira-De-L'agly, Latour-Bas-Elne, Casteil, Montferrer, Los Masos, Porté-Puymorens, Joch, Sournia, Villelongue-De-La-Salanque, Formiguères, Clara, Jujols, Souanyas, Dorres, Taurinya, Enveitg, Oms, Bourg-Madame, Montalba-Le-Château, Le Tech, Reynes, Nohèdes, Angoustrine-Villeneuve-Des-Escaldes, Tautavel, Canaveilles, Montauriol, Nyer, Canet-En-Roussillon, Sahorre, Puyvalador, Salses-Le-Château, Baho, Fontpédrouse, Millas, Saint-Jean-Pla-De-Corts, Eus, Corsavy, Ria-Sirach, Escaro, Calce, Trouillas, Rasiguères, Vingrau, Ponteilla, Corneilla-Del-Vercol, Villeneuve-La-Rivière, Saint-Génis-Des-Fontaines, Prunet-Et-Belpuig, Cases-De-Pène, Ayguatébia-Talau, Corbère, Baillestavy, Prugnanes, Valcebollère, Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, Saint-Marsal, Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes, Finestret, Serdinya, Lamanère, Palau-de-Cerdagne, Villemolaque, Mosset, Le Perthus, Targassonne, Serralongue, Espira-de-Conflent, Taillet, Villelongue-dels-Monts, Urbanya, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Porta, Fillols, Coustouges, Trilla, Ur, Arboussols, Sainte-Léocadie, Felluns, Caramany, Estoher, Nahuja, Py, Conat, Campoussy
For the regional travel overview: Languedoc-Roussillon.
