Perpignan away

(French: Perpignan; Catalan Perpinyà is a commune and the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Perpignan was the capital of the former province and county of Roussillon (Rosselló in Catalan).

The last major town in Languedoc before the Spanish border, it’s easy to see why the flavour of Perpignan is essentially Catalan. There’s a real mix of cultures in this corner of the region: Catalan, Romany and North African all co-exist in this sunny city of palm-lined squares. For the visitor, it’s useful to know that this is not only one of the best places in the region to sample local food and wine but also a city with a relatively busy airport that has several handy air connections overseas. However, it does lack buzz – Barcelona is too close and too big a rival for little Perpignan to hit the big time. It’s also worth noting that over recent years Perpignan has become a stronghold for Jean-Marie Le Pen’s rightwing Front National Party who claim the city’s original white inhabitants have been overrun by foreigners.

A former capital of the Kings of Majorca and the Counts of Roussillon, Perpignan changed hands repeatedly during the medieval period until finally becoming French territory with the Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659. Always too far from the coast to become a port, the town developed into a cloth-making centre by the early middle ages. In more recent times, Perpignan became home to countless “pieds noirs” or French citizens who fled the uprisings of the 50s and 60s in North Africa. The town is now also home to sizeable communities of people from Morocco and Algeria who moved to France to escape repression in their home countries.

• Population: Population (2006): 117,500 (Perpignanais, Perpinyanés) in the city proper.
• Language: French/Catalan
• Climate: average 17°C
• Currency: Euro
• Int. Phone Code: +33
• Taxi: +33 (0)468351515 Accueil Perpignan Taxi Email : accueil.perpignantaxi@orange.fr, by the train station. €2 per km, more at night and on weekends. €40 to the airport, €30 to Canet-Plage. 24hr.

Language
The official language of France is French, however the Catalan language is also spoken. Most young people in the South of France speak more than a few phrases in English.

Flights:

• Aéroport de Perpignan-Rivesaltes ( PGF; +33 (0)4 68 52 60 70; www.perpignan.cci.fr), 6km northwest of the centre-ville, just outside of town along D117. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) offers the cheapest flights. Navette Aéroport (? 04 68 55 68 00) runs shuttles from the SNCF train station and the gare routière to the airport (15min.; M-F 4 per day, Sa-Su 5 per day). Shuttles are synchronized with flights, and the connection is usually guaranteed. Schedule changes frequently; check with tourist office. €4.50, ages 4-10 and group members €3.
• Barcelona Girona Aiport (+34) 97 218 6708 for info Email : gironainfo@aena.es www.aena.es There is a bus service from Girona Airport to Perpignan. Frogbus are a bus company linking Girona Airport in Northern Spain and the Southern French city of Perpignan. The airport transfer service is the first direct scheduled link from Girona airport into the Languedoc Roussillon area of France. http://www.frogbus.com/en/about-us.html
• Carcassonne Airport +33 (0)4.68.71.96.46 http://www.carcassonne.cci.fr Ryanair flies into this airport. There is a bus (€5) which will take you to the Train Station Gare SNCF (Chénier). From there you can take a train to Perpignan (you might have to change at Narbonne).

Trains: Pl. Salvador Dalí. Ticket window open M-Sa 6:10am-8pm, Su 6:40am-8pm. To: Carcassonne (1hr.; 3-7 per day, change at Narbonne; €17); Lyon (4-5hr., 5 per day, €62); Marseille (4-6hr.; 3 per day, change at Narbonne; €3; Montpellier (1-2hr.; 8-11 per day, change at Narbonne; €21); Paris (5hr., 1-4 per day, €101); Toulouse (2-3hr.; 2-7 per day, change at Narbonne; €26). www.sncf.fr

Perpignan’s Top 6:  More culture to justify the trip!!!

1. Palais des Rois de Majorque. The number one sight in Perpignan has been the focus of the town’s success and growth over the centuries. Originally used as a king’s residence during the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, today it’s really only the gardens and the courtyard of this imposing citadel that are worth a visit.
2.  Saint-Jean quarter. For an idea of Perpignan’s prosperous past take a wander through the network of narrow lanes in this district and take in the splendour of the fourteen and fifteenth century mansions and stately homes which make up this atmospheric part of the town.
3.  Cathédrale Saint-Jean. Functioning as Perpignan’s cathedral since 1602, the exterior walls of this imposing structure are particularly noteworthy: layers of stones from the local river bed have been squeezed in-between the brick.
4.  Escargots du Roussillon snail shop. Fancy a nibble? Look no further than this quintessentially French store in Place de la République – it’s the ultimate place to buy fresh snails and herbs to rustle up a tasty starter for any evening meal.
5.  Jardin de Sant-Vicens. These gardens on Rue Sant Vicens are not only full of exotic orange trees and oleanders, but they’re also the place to look for ceramic pots and textiles which are on sale here.
6.  Le Castillet.Guarding the entrance to the centre-ville, Le Castillet, originally built by the Spanish in 1368, was intended to repel French invaders. After the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, the castle was transformed into a prison and torture chamber for those who refused to acknowledge the victorious French crown. No longer a frontier pillar, Le Castillet holds the Casa Pairal, a museum of Catalan domestic ware, religious relics, and farm equipment. Visit the reconstructions of Catalan houses as well as the giant statues of the king and queen of Majorca guarding the museum entrance. (? 04 68 35 42 05. Open M and W-Su May-Sept. 10am-6:30pm; Oct.-Apr. 11am-5:30pm. Guided tours in French twice a month in summer; call for exact dates. €4, students and under 15 €2.)

also away from Perpignan

Visit (http://www.creme-de-languedoc.com/Languedoc/sightseeing/castles-roman.php) :-

1. Collioure ( top 10 most beautiful villages in France, 30mins by train) Been there it is nice.
2. Carcassonne's medieval fortress,
3.  The Roman arena and temple in Nimes,
4.  The Pont du Gard roman aqueduct,
5.  Aigues Mortes fortified town,
6. The castle and village of Castlenou,
7.  The Spanish fort of Salses,
8.  The world's tallest suspension bridge (Millau bridge) which was designed by Sir Norman Foster,
9.  The Cathar castles of Villerouge, Puilaurens, Peyrepertuse and Queribus,
10. The Roman ruins of Oppidum Enserune.

• Christmas markets and great shopping near the Castillet
• Do a wine tour with the French Tour Co (www.thefrenchtourco.com)
• Go ski-ing (1 hour from Perpignan)

Jean-Francois Imbernon's bar and brasserie 41 bis, Quai Verbon +33 (0) 4 68 51 27 78 Naturally this will be the main meeting point but there are only so many supporters who can get in !

For something different, a Rugby League bar, called Code Bar, 37, avenue du Général-Leclerc 66000 Perpignan

O'Shannon, 3, Rue Incendie, 66000 Perpignan, France, Tel : +33 (0) 4 68 35 12