Provence

French Catalonia , nestling on the Spanish border , is one that continues to delight and charm . The coast has long flat sandy beaches with a full range of water sports and golf at St Cyprien . The hinterland is surprisingly green , its gentle slopes home to the vineyards of Côtes de Roussillon , Banyuls and Rivesaltes and a whole host of fruit trees - peaches , cherries , plums , pears , oranges and lemons . Further inland , the Pyrenees rise , remarkably green and covered with trees and shrubs . To the north is the mediaeval town of Carcassonne , which rises like a mirage between vineyards and hills . Nearby is the fascinating land of the Cathars .

“ An enticing mixture of southern mountains and coast , vineyards and fruit trees . Deserving of discovery , an

TRAVELLING THERE Self-drive You can cover the distance from Calais to this region with just one overnight stop in each direction . However , an easier journey would be with two overnight stops in each direction , perhaps at Burgundy , the Ardeche or at Les Frenes on the way out and the Rhone Valley and Champagne on the way back . Fly-drive Toulouse is only about two and a half hours ’ drive away from Perpignan and about an hour from Carcassonne and has several flights a day from London with British Airways . ideal holiday destination ”

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS The earliest cherries ( usually ripe in May ) in France and other fruit , Ceramics , Paintings , the Narrow gauge railway from Villefranche de Conflent to Font Romeu , Folklore and music festivals in August , Anchovies , Macaroons , Rousquilles aniseed biscuits , Banyuls and Rivesaltes wines and Côtes de Roussillon wine , one of the most highly-regarded new wine regions of France .

CLIMATE ( Average air temperatures in Centigrade . Source : Direction de la Météorologique de France )

PHONE 01392 441240 FOR RESERVATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION 42