Combine French and Catalan experiences on a trip to Pyrénées-Orientales, a department in southern France that borders Spain. Typical French cuisine is joined by Spanish fare in the restaurants thanks to the historical Catalan presence, so you can feast on the rice dish paella and the snail dish cargols à la llauna. The department is also a famous wine-producing area, so make sure you sample regional specialities like muscat de Rivesaltes and the Grenache-based Banyuls from Banyuls-sur-Mer. The capital, Perpignan is home to the Cathedral of St John the Baptist and the 13th century Palace of the Kings of Majorca, and other historic buildings in the region include the 17th century Prats de Molló castle, the 16th century Fort de Salses castle, Martin-du-Canigou Abbey, Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa Abbey and Château Royal de Collioure.
Renting holiday apartments in Pyrénées-Orientales
The benefit of staying in apartments in Pyrénées-Orientales over hotels is the space, privacy and flexibility they offer. Rather than staying in a cramped hotel room, having to share your dining space with other guests, and having to observe dining schedules like you do in a hotel, Pyrénées-Orientales apartments give you the room to spread out plus the advantage of having your own kitchen and living area so you can eat what you want, when you want it. Self-catering holiday accommodation available through HouseTrip gives you a home away from home experience, so have a look at the holiday rentals on offer and pick your favourite!
Where to stay in Pyrénées-Orientales
When you visit Pyrénées-Orientales you can enjoy a seaside holiday in one of the coastal resorts on the Mediterranean Sea, a city break in Perpignan, or a vacation in an ancient village. Popular destinations in this part of France include Elne, Banyuls-sur-Mer, Thuir, Argelès-sur-Mer, Prades and Collioure, which is famous for anchovies. Feast on fresh fish when you stay near the beach, or snack on goat’s cheese and olives in the mountainous areas in the south. You’ll find all kind of holiday rentals in Pyrénées-Orientales on HouseTrip, so have a think about the kind of locale you’d prefer and then browse the options to find the pad that best suits your needs.
Pyrénées-Orientales with the family
Take a family holiday to Pyrénées-Orientales and your children will get the chance to experience Catalan culture as well as the French way of life. If you stay near the border with Spain you could even make it a twin-centre holiday to enjoy two countries in one trip! After you’ve all enjoyed a hearty breakfast in your holiday rental for the family, head out to explore the major sites of this part of France, from the Palace of the Kings of Majorca in Perpignan to the Fort de Salses castle in Salses. There are also plenty of beaches here, so you can spend a day by the sea, or take a trip to the southern mountainous region.
