Image by LianeM / Shutterstock

Roussillon

Dusty scrubland, crimson towns and scorching summer temperatures give Roussillon a distinctly Spanish flavour. Also known as French Catalonia, it incorporates busy beach towns and coastal villages along the Mediterranean as well as the abandoned abbeys and crumbling Cathar strongholds inland among the fragrant maquis. West of Perpignan, Roussillon’s only city, the Tech Valley and the Têt Valley offer a heady mix of picturesque villages and stunning mountainscapes.

Explore Roussillon

0

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Roussillon.

  • Gallery

    Musée d’Art Moderne

    Roussillon had its artistic heyday around the turn of the 20th century, when Fauvist and cubist artists flocked here, attracted by the searing colours and…

  • Palace

    Palais des Rois de Majorque

    Perpignan’s most dominant monument, the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca sprawls over a huge area to the south of the old town. Built in 1276, the castle…

  • Natural Feature

    Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt

    These rock formations must be one of the most striking geological wonders in Occitanie, though they have remained well under the tourist radar. They…

  • Castle

    Château de Quéribus

    Perched 728m up on a rocky hill, Quéribus was the site of the Cathars’ last stand in 1255. Its structure is well preserved: the salle du pilier (pillars'…

  • Castle

    Château de Puilaurens

    In a lofty location 63km northwest of Perpignan via the D117, turreted Puilaurens is perhaps the most dramatic of the Cathar fortresses. It has the full…

  • Castle

    Château de Peyrepertuse

    Peyrepertuse is the largest of the Cathar castles, teetering on a sheer spur of rock with a drop of 800m on either side. Several of the original towers…

  • Architecture

    Site de Paulilles

    Part industrial relic, part nature walk, this 35-hectare coastal site is remote, as you'd expect of a one-time dynamite factory. It was set up by Nobel…

  • Cathedral

    Cathédrale St-Jean

    Perpignan’s old town has several intriguing churches, but the most impressive is the Cathédrale St-Jean, begun in 1324 and not completed until 1509…

  • Museum

    Musée d'Art Hyacinthe Rigaud

    Occupying two elegant hôtels particuliers (private mansions) right in the historical centre, this museum was entirely renovated in 2017 and now ranks as…

  • Square

    Place de la Loge

    Three fine stone structures flank place de la Loge. The 14th-century La Loge de Mer was rebuilt during the Renaissance; it was once Perpignan’s stock…

  • Chateau

    Château Royal

    Collioure’s seaside castle was mostly built between 1276 and 1344 by the counts of Roussillon and the kings of Aragon, and was later occupied by the…

  • Fort

    Fort Liberia

    Villefranche’s mighty fort dominates the skyline above town. Built by Vauban in 1681, it was heavily refortified by Napoléon III between 1850 and 1856…

  • Village

    Eus

    Travelling around the Têt Valley, it's well worth visiting the hilltop village of Eus, 12km northeast of Villefranche-de-Conflent. The approach to the…

  • Gate

    Le Castillet & Musée Casa Païral

    Like many medieval towns, Perpignan was once encircled by defensive walls. Today all that remains is the red-brick town gate of Le Castillet, at the…

  • Aquarium

    Biodiversarium

    At the southern end of Banyuls’ seafront promenade, this aquarium, which was modernised in 2017, houses an intriguing collection of Mediterranean marine…

  • Gallery

    Musée d’Art Moderne

    Boat sketches by Matisse and Edouard Pignon along with coastal canvases by Henri Martin and Henri Marre are among the highlights of this small but…

  • Historic Site

    Ramparts

    It’s still possible to walk along many of Villefranche’s ramparts. Built in stages between the 11th and 19th centuries, they have survived remarkably…

  • Church

    Église Notre-Dame des Anges

    At the northern end of the harbour, the medieval belfry of this church once doubled as a lighthouse, although its pink dome – the signature feature of…

  • Bridge

    Pont du Diable

    Coming from Perpignan, you can't miss this graceful stone bridge that spans the Tech river with a single arch of 45m. It was built in the 14th century.

  • Landmark

    Moulin de la Cortina

    The most scenic way to reach this 14th-century windmill is a 950m walk through olive and almond groves from Fort St-Elme along the Cami del Port de Sant…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Roussillon.

  • Activities