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TOUR OF BANYULS AND ENVIRONS
Places not to be missed on the “Côte Vermeille”
You love the sunshine of the Mediterranean, its magnificent landscapes, wine estates and vines and you want to know more about this unforgettable region, besides the wines of Banyuls and Collioure.
Take a few moments to drink in some impressions of the place….
1st stage: Collioure: Fascinated by the region’s rich, intense colours, Matisse and Derain settled here in the early 20th century and captured fishing and viticulture scenes in their paintings. A new style was born – Fauvism. Collioure attracted other contemporary painters and rapidly became an artists’ “colony”. This period left a permanent mark on the tiny port, which has been renowned since the Middle Ages for its excellent anchovies. Today, it features dozens of art galleries, which make it a veritable art patchwork. This picturesque village, with its narrow streets and colourful façades, has given its name to a controlled origin appellation: Collioure
Don’t miss
The Royal Castle
The Fauvism Trail
Notre Dame des Anges church and its famous belltower
The Modern Art Museum
Make sure you taste:
Anchovies in brine or oil. Anchovies have been the speciality of Collioure for centuries. Use this opportunity to take a gastronomic break and taste a rancio-type Banyuls – highly oxidated with a walnutty taste – with salted anchovies, or a Collioure Rosé with anchovies in brine or oil.
2nd stage: Port-Vendres: The nearest port in mainland France to North Africa, Port-Vendres is a strategic centre of international trade. It is the most important port in the département (Pyrénées-Orientales). Fishing is a vital part of the town’s existence and for centuries was closely associated with winegrowing – in times gone by, its inhabitants were either fishermen or dockers, but they were also winegrowers. It was the natural way of exploiting to the full the activities that the region offered, and which are complementary seasonally. The port is also a beautiful stopover place for sea-loving sailing enthusiasts.
Don’t miss
The obelisk, dating from the 18th century
The return of the fishing boats
The quays, with its colourful fishing nets
Cap Béar and the lighthouse
Make sure you taste:
The typically Mediterranean fish that you’ll find on the stalls of the fish market – la Criée – between the squids, prawns and other seafood. Don’t pass up the chance of tasting red mullet, sea bass, angler-fish, gilthead and others served in sauce, “à la planxa” or “en parillade”, accompanied by a well-chilled Collioure Blanc.
* Catalan specialities
3rd stage: Banyuls sur Mer:
The birthplace of Aristide Maillol, Banyuls houses some of his works in the museum which bears the name of this famous artist. This small village is also the birthplace of one of the first controlled origin appellations: Banyuls. As in Port-Vendres and Collioure, winegrowing here long went hand in hand with fishing. During the grape harvest, it wasn’t unusual to see growers using their fishing boat to bring their grapes in over the sea, rather than down the tortuous paths through the vines. Today, a visit to this seaside resort is part and parcel of any tour of the region. It summons up images of a gentle way of life, simplicity and natural living, and its restaurants offer excellent cuisine – and, of course, the famous Banyuls. Whether you’re a wine fan or a wine expert, you’ll find something to suit your taste.
Don’t miss
Musée Maillol
Laboratoire Arago and its aquarium
Salette Chapel
Make sure you taste:
AC Banyuls, AC Banyuls Grand Cru and the AC Collioure wines
4th stage: Cerbère, the last French village before the Spanish border. Thanks to its isolated situation, it offers a view of unspoiled natural landscapes. The last vines in the Collioure and Banyuls appellation areas overlook steep cliffs which plunge down to inaccessible creeks lapped by turquoise waters. Yet the mid-19th century marked a new page in Cerbère’s history, with the arrival of the railways. From this period, Cerbère enjoyed half a century of prosperity. Its entire economy revolved around the railway and the proximity of the Spanish border, with the railway station and transportation of people and goods. But winegrowing was still there in the background and continued to play a major role in the daily lives of the inhabitants, who quite naturally combined both activities.
Don’t miss
The Peyrefite underwater trail and the Marine Reserve
The solar lighthouse
Cap Cerbère |
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