Laroque des Alberes & the Pyrenees Orientales
Beaches and mountains, sunbathing and skiing, art and history, activities and attractions, sightseeing and shopping, festivals and carnivals, stunning scenery and fantastic weather, eating out - This area has it all. Whatever you want to do there's so much variety here you'll find something to enjoy
This area of the South of France is in the Roussillon part of Languedoc-Roussillon and enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with on average 300 days of sunshine each year, enjoying hot summers and mild winters - ideal for a holiday at any time of year!
Grapes thrive in this climate too and the famous Banyuls, Minervois and Cotes du Roussillon wines are produced locally and are widely available from the local vineyards covering the countryside. Apricots, peaches and other fruits are also widely grown and their orchards add to the landscape as you drive around - the blossom is particularly attractive in the springtime. The other mainstay of mediterranean cuisine, the olive tree is also to be found here in abundance - either individually in a garden or in larger olive groves. Many of the villages will have more than one olive mill, producing local oil available to buy at their shop.
The mediterranean area of France near to the Spanish border is part of Catalonia and historically and culturally has many links with Southern Catalonia across the border in Spain. There is a fierce pride in the Catalan heritage, and both French and Catalan are spoken locally. Local road signs show both French and Catalan versions of the village names.
The area is rich in history with many medieval Cathar and crusader castles to visit. Particularly spectacular is the restored citadel of Carcassonne, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The coastal region has a variety of clean sandy beaches, fishing villages and modern resorts. The coastal lagoons provide birdwatching opportunities. In the winter skiing is possible from the resorts in the Pyrenees - the nearest large resorts are Font Romeu and Les Angles. (News for 2009/2010 Ski Season: Because of heavy snowfalls and good snow conditions most ski resorts in the Pyrenees are opening early this year. At least 23 of the 28 resorts plan to open on Saturday 5th December 2009.)
There are many local carnivals and festivals throughout the year in the area.
There is a folder with local info and a basket with tourist attraction leaflets in the house. There are too many interesting places to list here, so here are some of our favourites. (The links are to external websites).
The village of Laroque des Alberes
Laroque des Alberes is a traditional Catalan village 10km from the sea at the foot of the Alberes hills. The historic centre of the village is mediaeval and contains an old fort or castle dating from the end of the 11th century at the top of a small hill, and a church, surrounded by narrow winding streets lined with village houses, some of which date from the second half of the 12th century. There are also all the usual local shops, bakers, butcher, newsagent, chemist, small supermarket, shoeshop, hairdresser, post office, etc etc. There are several friendly and welcoming restaurants, cafes and bars, in Laroque, amongst them the Cafe des Artistes which provides a relaxed family atmosphere and where you can watch the world go by from its large terrace, the sophisticated La Cueva or the Michelin starred Les Palmiers (newly awarded for 2010!). Laroque has its own helpful tourist office. (We are registered with the Tourist Office, and you can find us on their website by choosing Meubles, Non-classe, Villa from the search options on the tourist office website). Our villa is on the edge of the modern part of the village and it is just a picturesque short walk, past gardens and allotments, into the centre of the village. Laroque is surrounded by walking , hiking and mountain biking trails in the Alberes hills, and guided tours are often organised from the tourist office, or alternatively just pick up a map and set off from our doorstep.
Relax on Clean Sandy Mediterranean Beaches
Only a short 10km drive from the villa is the nearest beach resort of Argeles with its miles of wide sandy beaches, palm tree lined promenade and spectacular backdrop of the Alberes and the Pyrenees. Other beaches at St Cyprien and Canet are also within reach. These three beaches, along with Barcares, Sainte Marie la Mer and Torreilles which are also in the Pyrenees Orientales department, have all been awarded the prestigious Pavillon Bleu award for clean beaches and bathing water for 2009/2010 (French equivalent of UK Blue Flag award).
For Artists and Art Lovers
Also nearby are the fishing villages of Port Vendres and Collioure. Collioure is a pretty village with cobbled streets and a castle originally built by the Knights Templars. It is a bustling place with many resaurants and cafes, popular with tourists.
Collioure is also popular with artists and contains several museums, studios and galleries. Matisse and the fauves, Braque and Picasso also worked in Collioure. For those interested in art the museum of modern art in Ceret is also nearby (about 15km) and exhibits works by Picasso, Dali, Braque, Chagall, Matisse, Miro and other famous artists. The four Dali museums across the border in Spain (Dali Theatre Museum and Dali Jewels, both in Figueres, House Salvador Dali in Portligat and Gala Dali Castle in Pubol, both of which are 40kms from Figueres) are also worth day trips for art lovers. Spend a week visiting the galleries, or bring your paints and be inspired by the light and the landscapes to have a go yourself!
Villefranche, the Yellow Train & Font Romeu
The mediaeval walled city of Villefranche de Conflent is well worth a visit. It is popular with tourists and has many restaurants and shops. The walls and ramparts are visible and there is a Roman bridge across the river Tet and Fort Liberia towers over the town. It has recently been granted UNESCO world heritage site status. This is also the starting point for the famous Little Yellow Train, a narrow gauge, mostly single track, scenic railway which goes up into the mountains. At Mont-Louis guided tours are available of the 1st solar furnace in the world. At Odeilla the mirrors of the largest solar furnace in the world, which also has guided tours, can be seen from the shuttle bus to the ski resort of Font Romeu, and only a few kilometers away from this is the Themis solar power tower. These sites in the Pyrenees were chosen for this pioneering research into solar energy because of the region's record of an average 300 days of sunshine a year.
Historical Cathar Country
In the middle ages there was much religious dissent and consequently many religious (as well as territorial) wars, which resulted in the construction of fortifications and remote monasteries. The Languedoc region was a Cathar stronghold, until they fell to the Albigensian crusaders, and there are still many historic sites which may be visited. The Cathar castles, Chateau d'Aguila, Chateau de Peyrepertuse, Chateau de Puilaurens, Chateau de Queribus and Chateau de Termes, which may be visited (some are free!) are known as the 5 sons of Carcassonne, and after the Cathars fell they were used to defend the border against the Spanish. Other Cathar castle remains within driving distance are at Montsegur, Rennes-le-Chateau, Chateau d'Arques and de Puivert. Rennes-le-Chateau and nearby Rennes-les-Bains, of course, have a more recent fame, or notoriety, due to the claims in the late 19th century of the priest Berenger Sauniere about the origins of treasure which appeared, and the Holy Grail. These mysteries were the basis of many bestselling books, and most recently underly the plot of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. The history and mystery of this area also feature as the background or setting to other recent best-sellers: Sepulchre and Labyrinth by Kate Mosse and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Both the Prieure de Serrabone and the Abbeye de St Martin du Canigou are interesting old religious institutions set in spectacular mountain settings worth visiting. It is not possible to drive all the way to St Martin du Canigou: from the car park there is either a very steep 45 minute walk for the very fit, otherwise it is necessary to hire a jeep to complete the climb. Guided tours are carried out by the resident nuns.
Animal Attractions in Languedoc Roussillon
A popular nearby animal attraction is the Vallee des Tortues (Valley of Tortoises) in the next village of Sorede, only a couple of kilometers away from Laroque. This attraction is now combined with a new childrens activity attraction, called Fun Vallee.
At Chateau Valmy, about 10km away near Argeles, eagles, buzzards, kites and owls etc may be viewed with falconry displays and also working pyrenean mountain dogs. (Wine tasting is also possible at the chateu itself)
The Parc Animalier des Angles has wild boar, bison, bears and wolves. There are either 3.5km or 1.5km walks. Another animal park is 2km from Vernet les Bains, the Parc Animalier de Casteil, which has lions, birds, bears, deer, monkeys and a llama.
A bigger animal attraction is the Reserve Africaine de Sigean Safari park, at Sigean, near Narbonne, which has lions, bears, giraffes, monkeys, rhinos, alligators and flamingos, with a 6km drive through the park.
Birdwatching near Laroque des Alberes
Several different habitats are nearby, providing opportunities for viewing a variety of species.
The Alberes hills themselves are accessible on foot directly from the house, and also on foot from other points with road access. The National Nature Reserve of the Massane is in the Alberes Hills. A mixture of Mediterranean and mountain species can be found due to the varied habitat.
The lagoon between Canet and St Cyprien, approximately 21km from the house, has variable salinity, being fed by both fresh and salt water sources. It is separated from the sea by the sandy beach and the coast road, parking on which gives views both out to sea and over the lagoon. The lagoon is surrounded by reed beds and attracts waders, wild fowl and in spring and autumn passage birds. On the western side of the lagoon is the Delta du Reart reserve with reed beds and saltmarsh.
Nearby, between St Cyprien and Argeles there is the Mas Larrieu reserve, which is also reed beds and marsh where the River Tech flows to the sea, and contains resident species and passage birds.
Further inland is the lake of Villeneuve de la Raho, with a reserve on its wooded south western corner -- usually good in spring and autumn for migrating waders and raptors including honey buzzard.
Further away it is possible to access the higher mountains and Pyrenees. Eyne is a good site in early autumn to observe migration (stork, buzzard, eagle, kite, harrier, bee-eater etc).
Good sources of information in English are the books - `Birdwatching guide to France South of the Loire' & ‘Birdwatching guide to the Pyrenees' and the fatbirder website.
Sporting Activities in the Pyrenees Orientales
For those who want to do something more active than lazing around by the pool or on the beach there are plenty of other things to do.
Walking, hiking, cycling and mountain biking can be done directly from the village of Laroque des Alberes. There are cycle and mountain bike hire shops in Argeles. The Tour de France often has stages in the area. In 2009 the 5th stage of the Tour passed only 10km from the house. The route for the following year is usually announced around the middle of October. For 2012 the nearest stage is on 15th July from Limoux (about 135km, 2hours from our villa in Laroque) to Foix, with the stage on the previous day, 14th July, finishing in Cap d'Agde (about 156km, 1hour 30mins from our villa in Laroque).
Sailing, diving, sea-fishing and boat trips can be arranged at the port in Argeles.
Horse riding is available locally at several locations.
Golf in the Pyrenees Orientales: There are several golf courses within driving distance: St Cyprien, a challenging championship course with water features and 27 holes (18 holes, par 73, and 9 holes, par 35) and Golf du Domaine de Falgos (18 holes, par 70) with spectacular mountain scenery and views of the sea, Golf de Font Romeu (9 holes), Golf de Marcevol (9 holes par 34) near Arboussols and Lake Vinca and Golf Club of Amelie les Bains (7 holes).
In the mountains rafting, canyoning, canoeing and kayaking are possible. Leaflets advertising these activities are available from the tourist information offices.
....And, for fans of rugby, there's plenty of rugby in Perpignan -- both Perpignan USAP and the Catalan Dragons teams are based in nearby Perpignan, so combine a family holiday with watching your team play an away match.
In winter the ski resorts of Font Romeu and Les Angles are about an hour and a half drive from the villa.
NEWS FOR 2011/2012 SKI SEASON: Font Romeu and Pyrenees2000 resorts have announced that they expect to open on 3rd December 2011. Unless there is an early heavy snowfall Porté-Puymorens and some other resorts expect to open 17 December 2011. Opening dates for other local ski resorts still to be announced. There were heavy snowfalls at the end of January resulting in good snow conditionns for skiing.
Local Festivals and Carnivals near Laroque
There are many festivals and carnivals throughout the region and throughout the year - too many to list them all individually. As well as the extensive celebrations of Christmas and Easter and the local saints days which are celebrated in all the villages and towns, there are festivals related to harvesting local crops and the sea. A selection of some of the more unusual are listed here.
In February are the highly unusual bear festivals in Prats de Mollo and St Laurent de Cerdans. These involve traditional costumes, reenacting traditional scenes involving chases through the streets and drinking. See the slide show at the Prats de Mollo tourist site. Also in February there is a carnival in Amelie les Bains.
The end of March/start of April sees the Arles sur Tech goat fair and in April the Catalan festival of giants in Villefranche de Conflent, where the giants parade through the streets asking the residents for chocolate eggs in exchange for songs.
In June Amelie les Bains has a mule blessing fete.
In July Rivesaltes hosts an apricot festival, Port Vendres has a fishermen's festival, and Argeles a sea festival. Amelie les Bains holds a Catalan festival, Ceret hosts a feria (bullfighting) and Arles sur Tech holds the fete de la rodella.
Argeles holds a harbour festival in August, Ceret the cherry festival, Port Vendres holds regattas. Ceret also holds a sardane (traditional local dancing) festival in August. Toulouges holds an onion festival. Collioure also holds a ferria.
In September Amelie holds a Catalan festival and Arles sur Tech holds a mediaeval fete.
In October there are festivals celebrating the grape harvest in Elne, Banyuls sur Mer, and many other towns and villages.
‘Information(szentrum)' Page in German
‘Renseignements locaux' Page in French
