You will see its outline from far away! It's a perfect mountain peaking at 2784m whose pyramid shape commands the world around it. The Canigou crowns the Vallespir and Conflent. It brings you incredible views from the Mediterranean coast to the Pyrénées-Orientales' peaks.
How to get there? Getting up to the summit involves real mountaineering and you need to be a hardened hiker. But the breadth of the site means you can go rambling, horse riding, donkey trekking, electric cycling and more.
The Canigó
3 GR trails and 750km of signposted footpaths, canyons and cavities, paragliding launch areas: the Canigou mountain range is a hotspot for outdoor activities with no fewer than 6 Catalan nature reserves nearby. Explore the mountain on the Canigou's network of routes and loops. Follow the scents of scrublands and forests through heaths, pastures and villages.
Regional natural park of Pyrénées Catalanes
Visit the Canigό mountains, Grand Site Occitanie, to discover picturesque villages and unspoilt nature, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. See the top tips for visitors recommended by Mickael Sulian, hotelier in Dorres.
What to see around the Canigou mountain range Serrabone Priory surrounded by mountains with its pink marble stand that's worth the trip in itself. What's next? Saint-Michel de Cuxa Abbey and its cloister with surprisingly stylish capitals. It's a 45 min walk from Casteil to reach the eagle's nest of Saint-Martin du Canigou Abbey.
The Lombard belltower, vaulted crypt...what treasures and what a view! Go back down to the Sainte-Marie Priory in Corneilla-de-Conflent to gaze at its sculpted tympanum among others.
Saint-Martin du Canigou
Worth the detour
Visit Prades, the capital of Conflent, Arles-sur-Tech famous for the mysterious tomb in its abbey and Prats de Mollo, a royal town fortified by Vauban with the Gorges de la Carança and Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt rock formation.
Wander around Villefranche-de-Conflent, one of the most beautiful villages in France. It was fortified by Vauban in the 17th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village is overlooked by the Libéria Fort and linked to it by an amazing subway with 1000 steps. If you do it then do it downhill!
You should also visit the Canalettes Caves, "underground Versailles". Take the Yellow Train up to Cerdagne's high plateaus. Stroll along the lanes in hilltop villages such as Evol, Arboussols, Palalda and Eus, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
The Yellow Train gives its name and route to one of the 19 lines of the Occitanie Rail Tour.
This symbol of the Occitanie region runs all year round between the stations of Villefranche-Vernet-les-bains and Latour-de-Ccarol. Its speed is limited due to the curves and the steep slope of the line. The Yellow Train line runs 62 km, culminating at the highest station in France, Bolquère, at 1592 meters.
Its route is marked by 650 works of art, 19 tunnels and 2 exceptional bridges: the viaduct Séjourné registered in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments in 1994 and the Pont Gisclard classified as a Historical Monument in 1997.
The journey by train, especially in the exposed cars, resembles a panoramic film, punctuated by the swaying of the cars. Beautiful, beautiful spectacle full nature!
Dance the sardana to the sound of the coblas. Sing "Montanyas Regaladas", a hymn to the glory of Canigou. Take part in secular or sacred rites: Saint John's Eve (la Flamme du Canigó), castells (human towers), La Rodella procession. Try local specialities from boles de picolat (Catalan meatballs) to AOC Côtes du Roussillon wine.
And experience Catalan traditions! They're unique like the Fêtes de l’Ours in February or the amazing Canigou Championship in August.
Our favourite
Go shopping at the artisans in Eus and Villefranche-de-Conflent. Buy garnets at the Manufacture du Grenat in Prades and fabric from Creation Catalane in Saint-Laurent de Cerdans.
Our suggestions
How to get there
The Canigou mountain range is in south-west Occitania in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the middle of the Toulouse-Montpellier-Barcelona triangle.
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