Churches, chapels, a preserved fortified gate and the communal washhouse make Pia’s local history tangible through specific buildings. Seasonal fruit and vegetable growing offers another perspective on the town. You can focus on church art, architecture, local history or regional produce.

Churches and historic buildings in Pia

The Church of Saint-Cyr and Sainte-Julitte in Pia is first mentioned in 991. It was completely rebuilt and consecrated in 1879. The dates therefore mark different stages: the early mention and the later rebuilding and consecration. The church has five named altarpieces, dedicated to Saint-Grégoire, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Germaine and Sainte-Catherine. Altarpieces are structures behind altars, and the five names provide specific points of reference for the church’s sacred furnishings.

Notre-Dame de la Salut and Ortolanes

Notre-Dame de la Salut was the parish church of the former hamlet of Ortolanes. The hamlet disappeared, but the chapel survived. This different fate—a vanished hamlet and a surviving building—makes local history tangible through a specific example. In 1986, the chapel was restored and set up as a leisure space open to all residents of Pia. Check which facilities are currently accessible before visiting.

The chapel’s architecture can also be described briefly: it consists of a single nave with a semicircular apse set into a straight wall. The door jambs are believed to date from the 12th century. The building’s form and the tentatively dated door jambs are two distinct aspects of its architecture.

Oratoire Sainte-Anne, castle and washhouse

Oratoire Sainte-Anne is at 1 rue Sainte-Anne, on the corner of avenue de Bompas. The year 1869 appears below its niche; the oratory was renovated around 2013. The inscription and the later renovation mark two different points in its history.

Pia Castle was rebuilt in 1242. A stone fortified gate dating from 1249 is all that remains of it. The communal washhouse is also in the town centre, on rue du Lavoir. Together, these sites show different aspects of the town’s architectural history: a dated gate, an oratory with an inscription and a washhouse as a communal building.

Seasonal fruit and vegetable growing

Maraîchage Fillols – Chez Bernard et Mado is a fruit and vegetable farm at 17 rue Saint-Michel in Pia. Its seasonal produce includes artichokes, apricots, melons and plums. The selection depends on the season and the farm; products and business details may change. If the farm is important to your plans, check the latest information.

Getting there via the A9 and the Véloroute

By car, the route is via the A9 motorway, “La Catalane.” The listed exit, number 41, is called “Perpignan centre – Aéroport de Rivesaltes – Le Barcarès” and is 2 km from Pia. As routes may change, check the current signs before setting off.

For cycling, it is worth checking the route separately: the Véloroute du Piémont Pyrénéen runs from the D1 at Claira through Pia and the village, continuing toward Perpignan. The route and its signage may change; check both before planning your journey. The information about the motorway exit and the Véloroute describes different ways of getting there, which can be considered independently when planning.

Discover more destinations: Estoher, Villelongue-De-La-Salanque, Collioure, Valcebollère, Targassonne, Villeneuve-De-La-Raho, Le Barcares, Bourg-Madame.

For the broader travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.