COLLIOURE and BANYULS
Collioure is a picturesque fishing port, near the Spanish border and its speciality is the preparation of anchovies. This is the Roussillon department and once belonged to Spain. Perpignan, the Prefecture of Roussillon, once belonged to the Kings of Majorca and their Palace remains in the middle of the town. This area is French Catalonia and, “The Sardanya” a Catalan dance is often performed during fetes.
At Collioure you enter a Catalan land, with a specific language and culture. The Catalan tradition is omnipresent in gastronomy, religious festivals and the Catalans are characterized by their joviality.
Evidence of the Roman occupation is wide-spread in Catalunya.
The beauty of this area is blessed with bright sunshine all year round.
You will more often see the Catalan flag being flown, than the French tricolour. Colioure is known as the pearl of the Cote Vermeil, and its outstanding feature is an old Templar castle that juts out into the sea. The painters Matisse, Derain, Dufy and Picasso painted Colioure extensively.

Banyuls is a fishing port, but more noted for its wines that are naturally slightly sweet. The coast road from here to just beyond the Spanish Border is very picturesque, and ends in the village of Rosas.

ROSAS (Spain)

Although strictly speaking Rosas is not in Languedoc. It wouldn't be in order not to mention Rosas as it is one of the first coastal towns across the border and a firm favourite of those Frenchmen living within a short driving distance of the frontier. Rosas is a fishing village given over to tourism. It has a large semi circular bay. Just outside Rosas on the road to La Jonquera is one of the few Olive oil refineries in the area where it is possible to have a ‘degustation’ and buy en vrac (bulk).

LE PERTHUS
Not far from Rosas is the border town of Le Perthus. It lies on a Col on the Pyrenees where, it is said, Hannibal practiced mountain crossings with his elephants before going on to Italy. This town is where the French come to buy their alcohol at ‘duty free’ prices and little else is on sale except fresh meat, casual clothes, leather goods and Spanish specialties for aperitifs. During the season, garden plants and oranges are a good buy. Le Perthus consists of a main road, sloping down to the border crossing. The shops are arranged all along the Spanish side of the road, and little on the French side, the border strictly speaking running down the center of the road.