Roussillon to Discover

Fourth consecutive year of holidays in France; we choose the Roussillon, the southernmost region on the Mediterranean, bordering Spain. As always, camping at Ste Marie la Mer, and then off on our daily outings to discover every corner of a fascinating country. In France, a seaside holiday always turns into something much more complete. Very beautiful is nearby Perpignan, the regional capital, with the palace of the King of Majorca and its flowered avenues. A jewel not to be missed is Carcassonne and its thousand towers; the circuit of the walls and a visit to the Cité are a must. Heading south, once past the Spanish border at Le Perthus, we reach the coast near Empuries, with its sandy beach rich in coves, the Roman ruins of the same name behind us. At Port Vendres we find a tiny pebble beach.

Our outings inland take us to Ille sur Tet, where we admire the marvellous Orgues, or Chimneys of the Fairies, spectacular formations of white rock. We climb to St Martin de Canigou; it's a slog but the view is worth it. Nearby is Villefranche en Conflent, a little walled town with many characteristic little shops; we then climb towards Fort Liberia, a defensive construction overlooking Villefranche; to get there we use a very particular route, an underpass dug into the hill, 1,500 steps in the half-light and dust. Once at the top, a fine view and more steps. Also inland, not to be missed are the Gorges de la Fou, 2 km of walkway in a very narrow gorge, with rocks overhanging our heads; we're equipped with protective helmets and for our children it's a unique treat.

We head towards the Pyrenees, to Mont Louis where the highest fortification in France stands, and we see a lighthouse with solar light; we continue to the Grottes de Canalettes, not very large but beautiful with their plays of light and the soft music of a concert. On the coast, another lively little town is Argeles, while in Spain we'll remember Port Bou and a magnificent paella.