Looking for a picturesque village or town to stay in near the border with Spain (on our way to Barcelona). Would like a place with good shopping/markets, restaurants, and accommodations. Small and relatively non-touristy preferred.
Posted by
Farmingville, New York, USA
381 posts
We are planning trip in early september starting in Nice and ending in Barcelona. We are stopping at Carcassone along the way. Nice old medieval walled city. Give it a look.
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
You're looking for Collioure which is close to the Spanish border and fits what you're seeking--is a beautiful village on the coast, and mainly caters to French tourists. Check it out.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10600 posts
I also recommend Collioure. I stayed for a week just north of there in Canet en Roussillon. The beach was very nice but the town was very rundown. It had none of the charm of Collioure. Between Collioure and the border you will find Banyuls Sur Mer. I would not choose it over Collioure.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Collioure is lovely but small. Quite adequate food and lodging, but not a lot of shops. Sounds as though Scott wants a small town with small-city amenities; he may have to choose, or stop in Perpignan for shopping and continue to Collioure.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
I agree that Carcassonne is an interesting stop, but it is the second most visited site in France after Mont Saint Michel. Collioure would fit the bill as a small towm.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Don't stay in Carcassonne...completely overrun. Interesting for a day trip but I wouldn't spend the night there. I will echo the votes for Coullioure - we spent time there in July one summer and really enjoyed ourselves! It's a beautiful, old seaside town where the Fauvre artists lived in the early 1900s. Gorgeous port with old watchtower, swimmable beach (not sand but smoothe stones), and a pretty promenade with lots of cafes and artists. Mostly French tourists so it is a little crowded in summer. Another place we once stayed for 5 weeks is Pezenas; June/July one summer. This town is not very touristy at all. We didn't meet one other American while we were there, just a German couple at a restaurant we ate at. There were never large crowds of people; just folks walking around and enjoying the atmosphere. It's a beautiful, very real French town. It didn't feel touristy at all. It's about 45 - 60 minutes east of the Spanish border. It's a very old town, a compact "village circulade", which is common in that area. Moliere lived there and it's full of artists workshops, and a fantastic Saturday market that takes up most of the streets around the town center. The area is surrounded by vineyards with their small, family owned wineries. It's also close to the Cevennes with their caverns, the beautiful gorges where you can swim and kayak, and St. Guillaume le Desert, a beautiful pilgramage town tucked up into the Cevennes. There is so much to see in the area that we want to return one day to do the things we didn't get to last time. Enjoy your trip!