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Introducing Perpignan
As much Catalan as French, Perpignan (Perpinyà in Catalan) is far from being a ‘villainous ugly town’ – the verdict of traveller Henry Swinburne in 1775. Its population is a mixed one. Iberian blood flows in the veins of the descendants of the thousands of refugees who fled over the mountains at the end of the Spanish Civil War. Many others, Arab and displaced French settlers alike, have their recent origins in Algeria.
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At the foothills of the Pyrenees and with the Côte Vermeille to its southeast, Perpignan is a good base for day trips along the coast or to the mountains and Cathar castles of the interior. It’s commendably well documented; outside every major historical building is a freestanding sign with information in French, Catalan and English.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
