Collioure

 

30 - 35 minutes from house

 

Collioure is one of the best kept-secrets on the coast. Here the Pyrenees tumble into the sea, creating a series of beautiful bays and rocky headlands which give this stretch of coast its unique character. Collioure has a medieval castle (used for local art exhibits and concerts) three little sandy beaches and a shady market place with plenty of cafes.

Collioure inspired artists most famously, Picasso, Matisse and Derain amongst others. The sculptor Maillol also found inspiration here and his works are prominently displayed. Collioure is considered to be a true town of the "Cote Vermeille" due to the vermilion colour of the water. You can follow the "Chemin de Fauvism" a self-guided path of the artists that takes you around the town with reproductions of famous paintings by Matisse and Derain at the very spots where they set up their easels. It is said that Matisse would still recognise the red roofs, the green shutters, and the sailboats bobbing in the harbour in the glittering sunlight.