Save this article
Use this article for free on your own website
Republish this article for free on your own website or blog. Or search or browse for more articles that your audience will appreciate. Huge choice available. Ideal for finding quality, free content. Read our publishers guide.
Perpignan - Encounters With Catalonia And The Mediterranean
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.
The city of Perpignan is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, as a hinterland it has the Pyrenees mountains and the Corbieres wine-growing region. It is the southernmost city in France.
Perpignan possesses a unique history and is well-known for both for its old architecture and the modern-day tourist industry. It’s also famous as the city whose rail station roof was painted by the artist Salvador Dali, who called the station the “cosmological center of the universe”.
The old region around the town, known formerly as Ruscino, lending its name to the whole region, was occupied from the 6th century BC, being a major trader with Greece. It then fell under control of the Celts from the 2nd century BC. During the middle ages, the town belonged to the counts of Roussillon who made it their base. Later still, it was bequeathed to the King of Aragon in Spain, before being passed to the kingdom of Majorca.
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 are, the city of Perpignan in all its glory. All that remains is to wish you a happy vacation and many happy encounters with the magnificent city of Perpignan.