Canigou hiver, Conflent Canigo
Abbaye Saint-Martin du Canigou, Laetitia / Kikimagtravel.fr
Villefranche-de-Conflent, A.Cougnenc
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.
Le Canigó, G.DESCHAMPS
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.
Canyoning dans le Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées Catalanes, Paul DELGADO - PNR PYRENNES CATALANES
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, Casteil
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.
Villefranche-de-Conflent, A.Cougnenc
Massif du Canigo, Grand Site Occitanie, feux de la St-Jean, OT Villefranche-de-Conflent
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 Toiles du Soleil in Saint-Laurent de Cerdans.
Marie-Laure and Carole went up the Canigou (Canigó in Catalan) for Saint John's Eve, a festival dear to Catalans. A real ode to nature and the sacred mountain!
Video 3:27 © Blog-Trotteuses – Blog & Vidéos de voyage.
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
HOW TO GET THERE
How to get to the Canigou mountain range
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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