Much of the centre of the old part of Perpignan is pedestrian and there are shops where you can find distinctive Catalan fabrics, espadrilles and hand made pottery. There is also a huge weekly flea market, where you may find some treasures. The small Palais des Rois de Majorque still stands and is very charming surrounded by the Citadel's massive 14th century fortifications. The River Basse runs through the centre of the city, its banks transformed into lovely gardens, which stretch as far as an esplande lined with plane trees, palms and mimosas.

On the main road south to Spain and the Pyrénées is the ancient little hilltop town of Elne. Largly ignored by the world, it has a wonderful Spanish-Catalan atmosphere and was a thriving port at least 700 hundred years before Christ and was for a over a thousand years, the capital of Roussillon. Rising above tangled alleys and clustered Roman tiled rooftops is the 11th century cathedral with its exquisite 12th to 14th century cloisters.

Further along the coast is Collioure, a seaside village of immense charm, much favoured by 20th century painters such as Picasso, Matisse and Juan Gris.