Romance/Great Day Trips

Stay in this comfortable modern home overlooking the tiled roofs of the village of Maureillas with spectacular views of the Pyrenees. Set in its own garden, with terraces surrounding the private swimming pool, it enjoys a 180 degree view of the Canigou mountains. Villa Chiapella resides in a quiet neighborhood with plenty of parking. Walk to the village shops and markets, 15 KM to Collioure and the Mediterranean, 5 minutes to Ceret and the Modern Art Museum, 2 KM to the Spanish Border, 45 minutes to the best skiing in the Pyrenees. Near the Villa: Only a short drive to traditional markets, such as at Romanesque Elne and medieval Castelnou, but especially good Saturday markets and cultural activities at Ceret and Thuir. Le Boulou has a swimming pool with beautiful mountain backdrop, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, river walk and bars. St Jean Plas de Corts’ lake is good for swimming, picnics, walking, jogging and horse riding. 20 minutes away is cosmopolitan Perpignan with its Catalan culture, evening street entertainment, restaurants, shopping and ambience. Wine caves nearby at Passa, Fourques and hilltop village Banyuls des Aspres. Beaches, Coves and Harbours: St Cyprian and Argeles are closest at 30 minutes. There is golf, go-carting and an aqua-park at St Cyprian, whilst lively Argeles has festivals, restaurants, art galleries and a picturesque harbour, for fishing and boat trips. Closer to Spain are the fishing towns of Collioure, Port Vendres, Banyuls sur Mer and Corbere. Collioure is famed for the birth of Fauvanist art (Picasso/Matisse), its seafood restaurants and it's sheltered coves. Port Vendres is a working fishing town, whilst Banyuls is famous for its aperitifs. Further along this spectacular coast road you enter Spain for the resorts of Portbou and Rosas. Along the Tech and Tet Valley Roads: The Tech valley takes you through Ceret to spa town Arles sur Tech, to the spectacular George de la Fou for walking, climbing and hiking. Further along are the medieval Prats de Mollo (golf), and Andorra at the Spanish frontier. To the North, the Tet valley takes you through Romanesque Serrabone, Prades (Pablo Casels) and Villefranche de Conflent for caves, petit train jaune and mountain walking. Further along the Gorges de de Caranca, hot springs, lakes, and ski resorts Les Angles and Font Romeu. Also the Capcir woodlands for hiking and Mont Louis the highest part of the Tet, near its source.