You can find the following articles in this section : A Catalan language lesson Useful Phrases in Catalan The Catalan language is actually a Latin language which first appeared as a distinct language in its own right around the 10th century. Below are a few basic phrases (without phonetics - sorry) to start you off. I will try and add the photetics eventually. Basic (...) read more... A load of bull! A Load of Bull Personally, you wouldn’t get me within a mile of a bullring - I find the whole idea completely obnoxious. However, the corrida is an important part of the Spanish and Catalan culture so if you are going to go to a fight, you might as well understand what it’s all (...) read more... Catalan artists - Antoni Tapies Antoni Tàpies Born in Barcelona in 1923, painter, draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor, Tàpies is credited with introducing contemporary abstract painting into Spain. He is considered one of the great master artists of the 20th century and is perhaps the best-known Catalan artist to emerge (...) read more... Catalan heritage Origins of the Catalan language I was surprised to discover that there are approximately ten million catalan speakers in Catalonia, Valencia, Andora, USA, Alghero (Sardinia) and the Balearics. The Catalan language is a Latin language, very much a language in its own right, although based (...) read more... Collioure, Matisse and Fauvisme Collioure, Matisse and Fauvism In Spring 1905, Henri Matisse landed in Collioure, searching for light and a new style of painting. It was in Colioure that he painted the famous Open Window, with vibrant colours and reflexions that did not fit in with the expected - vermillion masts of (...) read more... What’s in a name? A potted history of the naming of some of the region’s towns and villages What’s in a name? It is only by knowing a little about the history of the region that we can appreciate where many of the towns and villages of the Pyrénées Orientales got their names. Architectural digs (...) read more...

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