Fine sandy beaches, a rocky coast, valleys and mountains: welcome to Pyrénées-Orientales!

PYRENEES-ORIENTALES & AUDE - EN

Unlike most guinguettes, la Guarida is not a seasonal venue. Open all year round – when the weather permits –, it offers grilled and seared meats and fish, just like a restaurant... Except that all the tables are outdoors! And on Sunday mornings, the chef prepares a 100% local specialty dish: grilled escargots, known as “cargolade.” La Guarida is nestled within a verdant setting on the square of Parc Sant Vicens, a 10-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Perpignan Centre. For further information, please consult  <https://www.facebook.com/p/La-Guinguette-de-La-Guarida-61550670314467/> ©Pixabay

Guinguette La Guarida

Architecture aficionados, take heed! Casa Xanxo, now home to the Centre d’interprétation de l’architecture et du patrimoine (CIAP, or Center for architecture and heritage interpretation), is one of the most beautiful historical houses in Perpignan. The tour reveals 500 years of architecture and decor, dating back to the 16th century. Inside are testimonials of historical figures, film projections, slide shows, dynamic mapping, and other displays. Free admission. Open every day until September 30th. For more information, please consult: <https://www.perpignantourisme.com/activite/casa-xanxo-ciap-centre-d-interpretation-de-l-architecture-et-du-patrimoine/> or call +33 (0)4 68 66 30 30. ©Pascale Marchesan/Mairie de Perpignan

Casa Xanxo

The Yellow Train is an emblem of the region that promises a trip through time! What was once the lifeline linking the high plateaus of the Cerdagne to the rest of Pyrénées-Orientales, the highest-altitude narrow-gauge railway in Europe now mainly transports sightseers along the line from Villefranche-de-Conflent (31 miles from Perpignan) to Latour-de-Carol. The train runs along a total of 39 miles at a gradient of more than 3,280 feet. Of the 22 villages that it crosses, eight stops are obligatory; the others are optional. The train runs year-round at 18.6 mph. For further information, please consult  <https://letrainjaune.fr>. ©Mossot/Wikimedia Commons

The Yellow Train

Wooden pens, natural soaps, customized pouches, jewelry, handbags, keychains, posters, candle holders, ceramic objects... Hand-made by local artists and artisans. You’ll find all this and much more at this collective shop, Cré'actifs du 66. A 6-minute walk from Hotel Mercure Perpignan Centre. For more information, please consult <https://www.facebook.com/lescreactifssdu66> or call +33 (0)6 10 40 17 27. ©Istock by Gettyimages

Cré'actifs du 66

The “Àcentmètresducentredumonde” contemporary art center was established in this renovated former warehouse conversion just off the Perpignan train station in June of 2004. Since then, the museum – spanning 15,070 ft2, where century-old wood beams form a harmonious setting with glass and metal – proposes exhibitions that showcase all the contemporary art movements. Open year-round. Guided tours by reservation from Thursdays to Sundays at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Simply send a request by email to [mediationsacmcm@gmail.com](mailto:mediationsacmcm@gmail.com). For more information, please consult <https://www.acentmetresducentredumonde.com> or call +33(0)4 68 34 14 35. ©Istock by Gettyimages

Àcentmètresducentredumonde

One of the region’s most beautiful natural sites is located less than 19 miles from Perpignan. Don’t miss the basalt columns in Ille-sur-Têt. Though it is nestled within a verdant setting, this mineral formation makes you feel like you’ve just landed on the moon! Footpaths form a labyrinth you can lose yourself in, while fairy chimneys offer an enchanting landscape to explore. Considered “exceptional patrimony” to be protected for the public interest, the site now requires an admission fee. A 30-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Perpignan Centre. For further information, please consult  <https://www.tourisme-pyreneesorientales.com/orgues-dille-sur-tet> ©Istock by Gettyimages

PYRENEES-ORIENTALES & AUDE - EN

Casa Xanxo

Àcentmètresducentredumonde

Basalt columns in Ille-sur-Têt

The Yellow Train

Cré'actifs du 66

Guinguette La Guarida