Contents of article "Town and villages of the Pyrenees-Orientales"
Perpignan
Places to visit
Perpignan markets
There are guide books in every language and easly accessible web guides to give you the historical, geographical and cultural details of the towns and villages in the Pyrenees-Orientales, with far more authority than I ever could. However, nothing beats hearing about a place ’straight from the horse’s mouth’! Tell us all about where you live, have a holiday home, spend your holidays....... a warts and all look at the different faces of the PO! Any length, any approach... let’s take a look through your eyes.
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Perpignan
Perpignan is the capital of the Catalan region and has recently been voted the centre of catalonian culture.The town owes much of its heritage and cultural development to the kings of Majorca, responsible for the transformation of Perpignan into a thriving trading post during the middle ages. The Palace of the Majorcan kings still dominates the town while the Castillet, once a city gate, then a prison, now a museum, is all that is left of the original city walls. Today, Perpignan is a colourful mix of old and new, combining chic and stylish department stores, trendy boutiques and busy restaurants with narrow, cobbled streets and small intimate bistros.
Don’t miss...
In July and August, don’t miss ’les jeudis de Perpigan - music, street theatre, jugglers, acrobats, flamenco, salsa, jazz...... and late night shopping every Thursday evening in Perpignan when local, national and international artistes light up the streets around place de la Loge where there is the highest concentration of bars and clubs in town, and the ‘places’ with a sparkling mixture of colour, sound and rhythm.
Miss.....
Wander through the town and you can find yourself quite easily off the tourist track and in rather seedy, slightly tacky areas, the stage of tragic events in May 2005, when 2 people were killed in street incidents leading to rioting and unrest. Perpignan is certainly no worse than any large town though, probably better in fact, but watch out for pickpocketing or aggressive begging.
Another hazard: dog poo! As in so many French towns, you must walk with your head down in this attractive maze of narrow cobbled streets - unless you want to come home with a free souvenir of the town!
The street, cafés and restaurants can get very crowded in high season. This can also mean that the standard of service, and quality of food and hygiene is not always at its best in many eating and drinking places. Take a look at our restaurant reviews to be sure of not ending up in one of the many mediocre restaurants of the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales
Places to visit
Muséum d’histoire naturelle
12 rue Fontaine-Neuve
Tel: 04 68 66 33 68.
Open Monday - Friday 11 h 00 - 17 h 30.
Price: 2 e.
Notre Dame des Anges
32 rue du Maréchal Foch
Tel : 04 68 51 77 19.
Open 1st June - 30th September 10 h 30 - 18 h 30 and 1st October - 31st May 9 h 30 - 17 h 30. (Closed Sun and Mon).
Free admission
Palais des rois de Mallorca
Rue des Archers
Tel: 04 68 34 48 29.
Open every day from 1st October - 30th May 9 h 00 - 17 h 00 and from 31st May - 30th September 10 h 00 - 18 h 00. (Closed 1st Jan).
Prices: adult: 4 e, child: 2 e, group 2 e,
Serrat d’en Vaquer
Rocade Sud.
Open : 1st June - 30th September Tues to Sat
10 h 00 - 19 h 00, Sunday - 10 h 00 - 18 h 30 and 1st October - 31st May Tues - Sat 10 h 00 - 17 h 00, Sun 10 h 00 - 16 h 30. (closed Mon).
More info : direction de l’Environnement
et Propreté urbaine 04 68 66 30 48 and direction de
la Culture 04 68 66 18 66
Free admission
Situated in the south west of Perpignan the Fort of Serrat d’en Vaquer stands on the highest hill of the Roussillon plain, near the aqueduct les Arcades, which dates back to the fourteenth century. Its strategic position placed the fort in an excellent place to defend Perpignan against the Spanish. Superb views.
Campo Santo (14th century cloistered cemetery - one of France’s oldest cemeteries with gothic arches and tombs of the rich.)
Chapelle de la Funerària
Rue Amiral Ribeill
Tel: 04 68 51 19 80.
Open: 1st October - 31st March 11 h 00 - 17 h 30 and 1st April 30th September 12 h 00 - 19 h 00. (Closed Mondays and from June to September).
Free admission
The Castillet, a combination of a gateway and fortress, is one of the main attractions of Perpignan. A redbrick building dating from the 14th century and houses the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaire, also known as La Casa Pairal. It has exhibits of Catalan regional artifacts and folkloric items, including typical dress.
Casa Xanxo
8 rue de la Main de Fer
Tel: 04 68 62 37 98.
Open: 1st October - 31st March 11 h 00
17 h 30 and 1st April 30th September 12 h 00 - 19 h 00. (Closed Mondays)
Free admission
Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Gothic Cathedral)
Place Gambetta
Tel : 04 68 51 33 72.
Open every day from 7 h 30 - 19 h 00 except Monday
Free admission
Chapelle du Tiers-Ordre de Saint-Dominique
Place de la Révolution française.
Open Tuesday - Sunday from 11 h 00 - 17 h 30.
Free admission
Couvent des Minimes
Rue François Rabelais
Tel: 04 68 51 25 63.
Open only during exhibition periods 1st October - 31st March 11 h 00 - 17 h 30 and 1st April - 30th September 12 h 00 - 19 h 00. (Closed Monday)
Prices depend on exhibition.
Église des Dominicains
Rue François Rabelais
Tel: 04 68 66 33 66 / 18 66.
Open only during exhibition periods
Prices depend on exhibition.
Musée de l’Algérie française
52 rue du Maréchal Foch, entrée C, 2e étage
Tel: 04 68 54 87 56.
Open Wednesdays 15 h 00 - 18 h 00 or by arrangement
Free admission
Musée de l’Aviation
Mas Palegry
Tel: 04 68 54 08 79 / 06 18 92 64 14.
Open 15th June - 15th September from Tuesday to Sunday, 15 h 00 - 19 h 00.
From 16th September - 31st December by arrangement.
Musée des poupées Bella
11 bis avenue du Languedoc
Tel : 04 68 22 97 11 / 04 68 34 50 66.
By arrangement
Musée des arts et traditions populaires
Casa Pairal
Le Castillet , Place de Verdun
Tel : 04 68 35 42 05.
Open 1st October - 30th April 11 h 00 - 17 h 30 and 2nd May - 30th September 10 h 00 -
19 h 00. (Close dmondays and 1st Jan)
Tarifs Adult : 4 e, child 2 e, group 2 e
Musée des beaux-arts Hyacinthe Rigaud
16 rue de l’Ange
Tel : 04 68 35 43 40.
Open every day except Tuesday
Winter : 11 h 00 - 17 h 30, summer : 12 h 00 - 18 h 30.(closed 25th December)
Prices: Adult : 4 e, child 2 e, group 2 e
Musée des monnaies et médailles Joseph Puig
42 avenue de Grande-Bretagne
Tel : 04 68 62 37 64 / 04 68 66 24 86.
Open Wed and Sat 9 h 30 - 18 h 00.
Groups, researchers and students Tues - Sat by arrangement.
Prices: Adult : 4 e, child 2 e, group 2 e
Perpignan markets
MARCHE AUX PUCES
flea market
Tous les dimanches matin
every Sunday morning
d7h - 13h45
Avenue du Palais des Expositions
BROCANTEURS ET ANTIQUAIRES
Antiques and bric-a-brac
Tous les samedis
every Saturday
8h - 18h
Allées Maillol (in front of the Palais des Congrès)
MARCHE DES ARTS
art and craft market
Tous les premiers samedis du mois
the first Saturday of every month
10h - 17h
Allées Maillol
LES MARCHES DE PLEIN AIR
Open air market
7h - 13h45
Du Lundi au Dimanche
Monday to Sunday
Centre Ville - Place des Poilus
Marché Saint Louis - Avenue Joffre
Marché du Haut Vernet - Rue du Méridien
Marché Cassanyes - Place Cassanyes
Du Mardi au Dimanche
Tuesday to Sunday
Market - Place de la République
Mercredi matin
Wednesday morning
Marché du Moulin à Vent
Windmill market
Place de la Sardane and Place Montbolo
Mercredi et Samedi matin
Wednesday and Saturday morning
Market Saint Martin
Avenue Foch
Other markets in the Pyrenees-Orientales
Tourist Info
Coustouges 
