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Perpignan - The City, The Mediterranean And Catalonia
Perpignan is a small town in the Languedoc region of southern France. It is the ideal spot for lovers of mountains, the sea, culture, history and art. It has mile upon mile of sandy beaches close by, and is definitely a cultural center to be visited by everyone visiting south-west France, the Mediterranean or northern Spain.
Perpignan is a small town in the Languedoc region of southern France. It is the ideal spot for lovers of mountains, the sea, culture, history and art. It has mile upon mile of sandy beaches close by, and is definitely a cultural center to be visited by everyone visiting south-west France, the Mediterranean or northern Spain.
Perpignan is to be found in a region of France known as Languedoc-Roussillon. It is in fact located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, close by the border with Spain. It also benefits from a stunning hinterland formed by the Pyrenees mountain chain and the well-known and equally famous Corbieres wine-growing region. For those interested in facts, Perpignan is also the southernmost city in France.
Perpignan also has a unique and most interesting history, and is equally well-known for its architecture as for the modern-day tourist industry. It is also very well-known for its world-famous rail station, the ceiling of which was painted by the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who called the station the “cosmological center of the universe”.
Perpignan is old, very old! The area surrounding the city, formerly known as Ruscino (which lent its name to the whole of the region), was inhabited from the sixth century BC, and was a major trading partner with the Greek nations. In the second century BC it was taken possession of by the invading Celts. Howevern Perpignan as it is known today came into being during the middle ages when it belonged to the Counts of Roussillon who made it their headquarters. The city later on was bequeathed to the King of Aragon, in northern Spain, before passing into the hands of the kingdom of Majorca. Many of the remaining historical features of the town date from this period.
The city of Perpignan is also remarkable for possessing one of the most astonishing carillons in existence. It is the only surviving intact carillon with a range of four octaves and dates from the nineteenth century. A work of the foundry Amedee Bollee and Sons from Mans, it was presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1878 before being installed at Perpignan.
The carillon is now owned by the City of Perpignan who have recently restored it to its full original glory. Carillonists appointed by the church now play the instrument on a regular basis. And since its electrification in 1956, its music can be heard resonating around the city three times each day, morning, noon and evening, with the music to the Angelus prayer.
There are four museums in Perpignan, all possessing outstanding collections. Firstly there is the Museum of Catalan Art and Traditions. Then there are the renowned Museum of Coins and Medals and the Natural history Museum. Then there is the glorious Hyacinthe Rigaud Museum of Painting.
Interestingly, who would have believed that in a city like Perpignan, urbanised, developed, bustling with people, there still remain magical areas to discover full of nesting birds! For Perpignan is also an encounter with 130 hectares of parks and gardens in the heart of the city, and over 2000 hectares of cultivated land crossed by a river, which conserve an astonishing amount of nature, including a large variety of bird species.
The cuisine of the Perpignan region is of course Catalan - a discovery and gastronomic experience not to be missed by those who aren’t already familiar with it!
So there you have it, Perpignan in a nutshell - city of history, art, culture and not forgetting the wonderful Mediterranean sea right on its doorstep - Perpignan has it all and is the ideal location as a starting point for visiting the Mediterranean shores of southern France.