Cap on the Vermeille coast! Known through Collioure, this coastline houses other treasures. Here are the 12 most beautiful villages around Collioure!
She married Perpignan and the Spanish border. The Vermeille Coast is a true jewel of the Pyrenees-Orientales. His fauna is similar to the work of a painter, with its turquoise waters and vineyards jaunised by the sun. But we will remember above all this magnificent painting the jewel of the coast, Collioure . This village attracts the fascination of tourists for its port, shaded neighborhoods, seaside church and royal castle.
But the Vermeille coast contains many other wonders. To Perpignan or to the Spain , a plethora of seductive communes offer themselves to you. Wanderlix has prepared a ranking of the 12 most beautiful villages around Collioure to discover the Mediterranean coast!
Also:
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Where to stay in Collioure and its surroundings?
The 20 most beautiful villages in France
1. Banyuls-sur-Mer
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Bensliman Hassan
Nestled at the foot of a terraced vineyard, Banyuls-sur-Mer is a charming seaside resort. Known to be the homeland of Aristide Maillol , the commune also attracts for its marinated marina of palm trees and its many family activities.
On the programme you can visit its wine cellars, the Cerbère-Banyuls marine nature reserve, the museum of the famous Banyulenc sculptor and its shops and cafes on the seaside.
2. Port-Vendres
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Kite_rin
3 km from Collioure is the beautiful village of Port-Vendres. This ancient port city has preserved its Catalan heritage. In the heart of the Paulilles site, its vineyards with a loss of sight, its years of sand and its many hiking paths give a singular magic instead.
But Port-Vendres also hosts a unique show. The arrival of fishing boats and the disembarkation of the fishes for the shouting rhythm the daily life of the city.
3. Cerbère
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Irina Papoyan
Cerbère is an authentic Catalan city and one of the most beautiful villages around Collioure by its unique architectural heritage and its wild environment.
Dive into the history of the city by visiting its international station and its buildings with the aesthetic Art Deco as the lighthouse of the Cap Cerbère or the hotel of the Belvedere du Rayon Vert.
The passions of hiking will also give themselves to joy by exploring the Cerebrian vineyard and the marine nature reserve populated with merous, which makes divers happy.
4. Argelès-sur-Mer
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Rainer Pauschert
At the foot of the Albères massif, the seaside resort of Argelès-sur-Mer is the perfect destination for a warm and sporting holiday.
You will be able to explore its vast pine forests and its 3 km-stretched promenade or practice nautical activities in Argelès-Plage. This beautiful village also offers picturesque tours with its marina, old village, local market and shops and restaurants.
5. Villefranche-de-Conflent
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Trabantos
Are you tired of excursions by the sea? Take a ride to Villefranche-de-Conflent! This former merchant city is one of the most beautiful villages around Collioure, but also in France.
His historical heritage has resisted the test of time. Defendued by huge ramparts, Fort Liberia, built by Vauban, stands on the mountain of Belloch and offers an unprecedented view of the Têt valley. A real monument of French history not to be missed!
6. Sorède
Photo credit: Facebook – Sorède Tourisme Pyrénées Méditerranée
To the west of Argelès-sur-Mer, this commune of the Mediterranean coast will travel your taste buds. Visit its market and taste its natural musks and sweet wines, just like its sardines!
On the village square, the party is at the rendezvous: folklores, balls and Catalan music await you.
For those who are thirsty for culture, the ruins of the seigneurial castle of Ultra, perched at the top of a rocky spur of the Albères massif, deserve a look. For sportsmen, you can go to football.
7. Salses-le-Château
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Iakov Filimonov
In the middle of the Corbières Maritimes, Salses-le-Château was originally designed as a military base, and then an internship camp during the Second World War. This village is today a historic site with a memorial built on the old island F of the camp.
But the place also bears its name for the fortress who makes it its fame. Built at the end of the 15th century by the kingdom of Aragon, the fortress of Salses grasped by the originality of its architecture. In his heart lies a maze of galleries, protected by an ingenious defense system and rounded walls of ten meters thick.
8. Saint-Cyprien
Photo credit: Shuttertsock – Alastair Wallace
Between coast and village, Saint-Cyprien offers a unique land-sea proximity. Everywhere, trails allow you to explore the territory and to discover typical Catalan landscapes.
The village also has the advantage of being within two hours of beautiful natural sites such as Fenouillèdes, between the Corbières massif and the Têt basin or Vallespir, in the Tech region.
Hiking, sailing, horse riding, sliding sports, diving, this beautiful village around Collioure is a rare destination where to enjoy the beach and to offer a getaway in nature is possible in the same day.
9. Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines
Photo credit: Facebook – Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines
For lovers of history, Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines is a town not to be missed!
Indeed, it is one of the most beautiful villages around Collioure because it houses a rich cultural heritage with one of the oldest written traces of Romanesque art: the lintel of its abbey church Saint-Michel. But visitors can also taste the wine selection of the wine cellars of the commune mentioned in the guide Routes des vins Roussillon 2017.
10. Saint-André
Photo credit: Facebook – Mediterranean Pyrenees Tourist Office
Another vestige of Romanesque art, Saint-André proudly bears his cultural heritage.
Start in a fun visit in the heart of the village by discovering its former Romanesque abbatiale and its Romanesque Art House. Go to the workshops of the Saint-André worms to discover their work. Or, walk away from the village to the discovery farm to meet more than 300 animals.
11. Castelnou
Photo credit: Shutterstock – BAO-Images Bildagentur
At the foot of the Aspres, in front of the Canigou mountain, Castelnou is ranked among the most beautiful villages around Collioure, but also in France.
Located at its top, its vicomtal castle is the symbol of a past era. The city was the capital of Vallespir.
But in addition to its picturesque village, Castelnou also extends to a modern subdivision. L’Auxineill, at the gates of Camelas, ensured the repopulation of the commune in the 1900s.
12. Thuir
Photo credit: Flickr – Daniel Hennemand
Finish our tour of the most beautiful villages around Collioure with the Aspres wine and economic center.
This neuralgic intersection between the plain and the pedestrian is an ancient medieval fortified city. Today, Thuir is more known as a land of vineyards: it is the capital of the famous aperitif Byrh.
But it contains many other treasures, such as the Cellera, the Notre-Dame de la Victoire church or the Saint Sebastian Chapel.
The Vermeille Coast offers a catalogue of paradise and picturesque recoins. You'll find them!
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