Villages in the Pyrénées-Orientales

It's in the villages that you discover the true personality of the Pyrénées-Orientales. You'll find the locals, those who bring the department to life and make it sublime day after day. Each village is different and has its own special features: architecture, monuments, landscapes... There are as many good reasons to visit as there are villages in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Ille-sur-Tête, for example, is a must-see for its majestic natural site of Les Orgues.

👉 Laroque-des-Albères

Here's a village that's good for the calves, and even the thighs! Located on a mountainside, the village of Laroque-des-Albères is a little steep, but that's what makes it so charming after all. If you follow its narrow streets upwards, you'll be able to admire breathtaking views over the plain. In some places, you can even see the sea.

👉 Sorède

It's no coincidence that Sorède is known as the "Pearl of the Albères". The village of less than 2,000 inhabitants is a little jewel hidden by the mountain range. Its (badly) cobbled and winding streets are full of charm, as are its little squares where the locals gather to keep the village alive.

Not to be missed? Sardana evenings, every Tuesday during the summer, when everyone is invited to get together in a circle to dance this traditional dance, emblematic of the region.

👉 Castelnou

The village of Castelnou is a real invitation to step into a setting from another era. Dominated by its pentagonal castle built on a rocky outcrop, this stone village is accessible via its gateway (the Porte de Millars), located to the north and framed by two towers. Behind this monumental entrance, visitors can discover the "carrer d'avall" and the "carrer del mig", two parallel streets around which the entire village is organised, and which are linked by several stairways.

👉 Argelès village

Argelès-sur-mer may be known as Europe's camping capital, with over 50 campsites in the commune and a population that doubles and even triples in the high season, but the most remote part of the village, Argelès-village, reconciles us with the charm of this town, its Mediterranean villas and their magnificently wooded gardens.

If you're an early riser, take the opportunity to visit the village market, held every Wednesday and Saturday. It's the perfect place to get a feel for the daily life that teems in the heart of the town centre.