Perpignan & Collioure
Your base for this new toue is the lovely French Catalan city of Perpignan, close to the Spanish border and a great base for this fascinating and varied tour. It is the capital city of the Roussillon region and has a distinctly southern feel with palm trees lining the river, vibrantly painted facades and an Arab quarter. Sights here include the Palais des Rois de Majorque, the Loge de Mer Maritime Exchange, Hotel de Ville dating base to 1315, Cathedrale St Jean and Musee Catalan. The colourful harbour town of Collioure attracted Matisse in 1905 and his artistic influence survives. Sights here include the Chateau Royal, built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century.
Figueres & Cadaqués
Our first of two visits into Spanish Catalonia takes us to Figueres, most famous as the home of Surrealist Salvador Dali, whose Teatre-Museu is the second most visited museum in Spain after Madrid's Prado and which houses a collection of his work in a striking setting - Dali himself is buried here. Cadaqués is a pretty resort overlooked by the Baroque Church of Santa Maria. In the 1960's it was dubbed the Spanish St Tropez thanks to the young crowd attracted by Dali.
Cerdagne, Mont-Louis & Villefranche-de-Conflent
The remote Cerdagne is a lovely mountainous area that offers wonderful vistas and is dotted with fortified towns. Highlights include Mont Louis, fortified by Vaubaun, Louis XIV's military architect and Villefrance-de-Conflent, home to the 12th century Eglise de St-Jacques.
Girona & Besalu
The handsome riverside town of Girona is a lively city with its own Rambla, a wonderful place to wander and stop at one of the many cafes that line the street. Sights here include the Archaeological Walk that explores the city's Roman roots, the distinctively-named Church of St Peter of the cock Crows, Jewish quarter of El Call, Cathedral and Arab Baths. A magnificent medieval town, Besalu has a fortified bridge, two fine Romanesque churches and a ritual Jewish bath (a mikvah) dating back to 1264, one of only 3 in Europe.
Salses & Corbières
Salses overlooks the Corbières vineyards and is renowned for its late 15th century fort that stood at the old frontier between France and Spain. The Corbières region is one of the most unspoilt in France and is famed for its vineyards that produce excellent red wines and its craggy castles, dating back to the 13th century where the Christian Cathars sect sought refuge from a vicious crusade against them led by Simon de Montfort.