in one of those inlets that you are only found in the Pyrenees. The town's bell-tower, which rises from the clear waters of the
, served as a magnet to attract all the great painters of the Fauvist school: first
and many more. It was a staging-post for Phoenicians, Greeks, Visigoths and Saracens, and was fortified by the Carolingians kings.
The kings of Aragon and Majorca left behind their traces, and then Vauban left his unforgettable mark upon this little port. The great Spanish poet Antonio Machado spent his last days there and the British novelist, Patrick O’Brian, lies buried there. This port, with its unique architecture, has managed to preserve its traditions (Sardanas, Catalan songs, the Sanch and Saint Vincent processions, Saint John’s Eve bonfires, corridas, water games). Its fishing-boats, its celebrated wines (AOC Banyuls-Collioure) and its anchovies have earned it the title of ‘Outstanding Gastronomic Site’. It has a mild climate in winter and very long summers. You can also enjoy swimming and sunbathing on its beaches, which fly the Blue Flag.
Things to see and do in Collioure :
- the ‘Templar’s Inn’ modern art museum
- the 12th century Chateau of the Templars
- once the summer residence of the Kings of Majorca and Aragon
- the tomb of the Spanish poet Antonio Machado in the town cemetery
- the ‘Fonds Peske’ museum of modern art
- anchovy salting workshops
- vineyard and wine cellar
- the church of Notre Dame des Anges. Nearby is the Madeloc Tower, with its panoramic coastal views.
Events in Collioure :
- evening procession on Good Friday
- the ‘festa major’ town festival on August 16th
INFORMATION
Tourist Office - Tél: +33 (0)4 68 82 15 47
