Perpignan, a city in southwest France at the foot of the Pyrenees, offers a unique blend of French and Spanish culture just 35km from the Spanish border. With a population of around 120,000, it is often overlooked by tourists in favour of Paris or Nice, but delivers a charming Franco-Spanish coastal experience.
Lonely Planet describes Perpignan as a city that 'radiates out from the tight knot of the old town's warren of alleys, palm-shaded squares and shabby tenements painted in shades of lemon, peach and tangerine'. The city's main attractions include the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, built in the 1200s, which offers the best views in the city, and the Cathedral St Jean Baptiste, constructed through the 1400s with stained glass windows and a Moorish organ.
Other notable sites include the Castillet, a city gate from the 1300s, and several art museums such as Hotel Pams, an art nouveau gem once a cigarette paper factory, and Musée d'Art Hyacinthe Rigaud, a fine art museum with baroque style and locally-inspired collections.
Just 13km from Perpignan, visitors can find golden sands and azure seas at numerous beaches, as well as charming seaside resorts. The Pyrenees mountain range, straddling the France-Spain border, is also within reach, offering walking and cycling routes, including its highest peak, Pico de Aneto.
Perpignan is accessible by train from Paris or by plane from Stansted, Birmingham, Dublin and Leeds. The city and its surroundings offer a variety of accommodation options for visitors.
