Perpignan
FranceCfa
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
"Centre del món" | "Center of the world" (Dalí's famous declaration about the train station)
Why visit
Perpignan rewards travelers seeking French Catalonia, the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, the Gothic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, the colorful Saint-Jacques (gypsy/Roma) and Arab quarters, and the well known Castillet gate. May, June, and September are best. Use Perpignan as a base for the Pyrenean Cathar castles (Quirbus, Peyrepertuse), the Mediterranean coast at Collioure, the Côte Vermeille, and easy day-trips into Spanish Catalonia (Figueres for the Dalí theater-Museum is 50 km).
When to avoid
The tramontana wind, a fierce northwesterly that funnels down the Aude valley, can blow for days, knocking over outdoor furniture and rattling shutters. Mid-summer can be hot and crowded along the coast. Some neighborhoods (Saint-Jacques especially) feel run-down and have a reputation for petty theft, stay aware. Driving in the medieval center is best avoided.
