The departement of Pyrenees-Orientales is located on both the Spanish border and the Mediterranean coast, heading inland to the heart of the mountains. An area of sharp contrasts, it is home to ski resorts as well as seaside towns, and the coastal area here is popular with tourists from both France and Spain, as well as the rest of Europe. The coast of Pyrenees-Orientales is really split into two areas; south of Argeles-sur-Mer it is wild and rocky, more suited to hiking and sightseeing than relaxing, while further north are the more traditional holiday resorts, with wide sandy beaches and all the amenities tourists expect.
The rocky section of the Pyrenees-Orientales shore is called the Cote Vermeille or “Vermilion Coast”, named after the red colour of its cliffs. Stretching from the popular resort of Argeles-sur-Mer to the border village of Cebere, the region is home to small and sheltered rocky beaches, some of which can be quite difficult to climb down to. Of course, this remoteness means that you can sometimes be lucky enough to have the beach to yourself! Hiking is popular in this part of the coast, with a path running along the cliff top offering great views of the sea. Cervera is one of the few typical seaside resorts on this stretch of coast, hidden away in the bottom of a valley, rather than being perched high on the cliffs. Diving is popular in these waters, which are home to unusual marine species and spectacular underwater rock formations.
Argeles-sur-Mer, the largest and most popular resort on the Pyrenees-Orientales coast, marks the border between the wild Cote Vermeille and the north of the region, where towns and villages boast wide sandy beaches, hotels and campsites and plenty of family entertainment. Argeles itself is home to several beaches on a ten-kilometre stretch of coast, all of which get very busy in the summer, and a wide promenade which is an ideal place for a snack and some people watching. There are several companies running boat trips along this stretch of coast, either just for sightseeing purposes or stopping off at some of the other Pyrenees-Orientales towns.
Families are well catered for, with play areas, mini golf, the usual water parks and even a fairground, Luna Park, which is open until late at night during the peak tourist season. Older children will enjoy the “Canyoning Park” where they can try out activities like canyoning (jumping into deep pools of water), abseiling and a high zip-wire, all in a safe and supervised environment.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Pyrenees-Orientales Coast? Then below is a selection of gites in Pyrenees-Orientales Coast and villas in Pyrenees-Orientales Coast that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
