Where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean Sea, there is a French seaside resort that guarantees a wonderful holiday:Argelès-sur-Mer. A beautiful beach of 7 km in length, an attractive historic center with a maze of streets that give it a Spanish atmosphere, a picturesque harbor and a majestic mountainous hinterland:the hiking and mountain bike paradise of Les Albères. Welcome to the seaside town of Argelès-sur-Mer, it lies on the French south coast in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, 25 kilometers from the city of Perpignan and half an hour's drive south you'll be at the Spanish border. We share our tips why you should not ignore Argelès-sur-Mer this summer.
The location
Argelès-sur-Mer is located both on the Mediterranean Sea and a few kilometers away from a mountainous hinterland:Les Albères. So you can sunbathe on the beach and hike in the mountains in the afternoon or try one of the many mountain bike trails. Highest point of the mountain ridge is 1157 meters. The city also calls itself mountain by the sea.
Beach
The seaside resort has a beautiful and wide sandy beach with a length of 7 kilometers. The bathing season runs from May 1 to September 29 and there are many beach pavilions. Argelès-sur-Mer has been flying a blue flag for many years, a European recognition for a clean and safe beach. There are various facilities for the disabled, including a 'Tiralo', a special beach wheelchair.
Boulevard
The free photo exhibition Argelès Photo Nature can be seen on the boulevard of Argelès-Sur-Mer until October 31, 2019. This is the 11th edition, the theme this year is the snow leopard, the French wildlife photographer Frédéric Larrey shows 70 photos he shot in the Tibetan highlands. The second theme is about snakes, photographed by Maxime Briola.
Sniff culture in the center
The town has a particularly rich history, including the church of Notre Dames dels Prats from the 14th century. The bell tower can be climbed and offers a nice view. A stone's throw away is the town of Valmy with an impressive Art Noveau castle by the Danish architect Viggo Dorph Petersen.
Campsites and motorhome pitches
In and around Argelès-sur-Mer you will find almost 50 campsites. No other seaside resort in France has so many campsites. Here you are guaranteed to always find a place for your tent or caravan.
Day trip to Spain
If you want to visit a Spanish city for a day, think for example of the places Figueres, Cadaqués or Girona just across the border with Catalonia.
Music Festival Les Deferlantes
Music lovers want to put 5-8 July in their agenda:then the 4th edition of a major festival with a mix of indie, rock, rap, reggae and dance will take place. The program includes ZZ Top, Patrick Bruel, Roger Hodson of Superamp, Macklemore, The B-52s and ZAZ.
Coastal walk
Stretch your legs after sunbathing… Le Sentier du Littoral is a lovely walk that starts from Argeles and ends ten kilometers further in Port-Vendres after passing the beautiful village of Collioure. The three-hour walk passes the beach of Racou, the Fort Saint-Elme, the windmill of Collioure and you can visit the castle of Royal de Collioure.
Accessibility
Argelès-sur-Mer is located just below Perpignan, it is a holiday destination by car but can also be reached by train. The nearest airports are Perpignan (25km) and Girona (90km). The distance Utrecht – Argelès-sur-Mer is 1400km.
