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Mosset is situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, west of Perpignan in the Languedoc–Roussillon region of France. This area forms part of Catalonia, which straddles the Eastern part of the Pyrenees, and the history and culture give the region and its people a unique character. There are unlimited opportunities for walking and hiking in the hills and mountains around Mosset including climbing Canigou, the sacred mountain of the Catalans. The numerous activities available in the area include horse and donkey trekking, canyoning, kayaking, climbing and mountain-biking. For those with an interest in Romanesque architecture, the region offers several sites of interest. The priory of Serrabona is situated high in the hills and combines beautiful architecture with a unique setting. The cloisters of the abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa, and the carved columns of the cathedral in Elne are also worth visiting. The Cathar castles of Montsegur, Puylaurens, Queribus and Peyrepertuse are within easy driving distance of Mosset and well worth a visit. Climbing up to the castles perched high on rocky outcrops offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys. www.pyreneesorientalestourisme.com Prades is the nearest town, 12km from Mosset. Sitting at the foot of Canigou, it has a vibrant Tuesday and Saturday morning market selling local produce such as honey, goats cheese and the peaches and cherries that grow here. There are cafés, brasseries and restaurants as well as a good range of shops, an open-air swimming pool, cinema and museum. A Catalan summer school takes over the town for two weeks in August, and there is dancing in the square every night. Fleeing from the Spanish civil war, cellist Pablo Casals settled in Prades and established the festival that now bears his name. It takes place each year for two weeks in July-August at the stunning monastery Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa and many other village churches in the area. www.prades-festival-casals.com Molitg-les-Bains is a thermal spa resort situated between Mosset and Prades. You can visit the imposing hotel built into the hillside and walk in the grounds or indulge in a spa treatment including the famous sulphur baths, renowned for their therapeutic properties and beneficial effect to the skin. Villefranche-de-Conflent , is a charming medieval town, completely contained within fortified ramparts and towers, and above it Fort Libéria looks over the Conflent Valley. Founded in 1090 on the confluence of the Tet and the Cady, it is the start of the Petit Train Jaune, and the caves of Cova Bastera and the Grotte des Canalettes are nearby. Mont-Louis, the highest fortified town in France provides arresting views of the Perche and the Cerdagne to the west, the Capcir to the north, and the Conflent to the east. Ceret is renowned for its artistic heritage, and was visited by some of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century including Picasso, Braque and Chagall. One of the prettiest towns in the Vallespir valley, with cobbled streets and squares lined with plane trees, Ceret is also home to the Museum of Modern Art, which houses an impressive collection including a room dedicated to Picasso’s ceramics. Collioure is a lovely harbour town with many good restaurants and shops, just over an hours drive from Mosset. The town is famous for its lighthouse and castle, and anchovies (do try them!). Many artists came to the town, including Matisse and Derain who found the colours and light dazzlingly beautiful, the resultant work leading to the inception of the Fauvist movement. Perpignan is the largest city of the region and has a wide range of good shops, cafés and restaurants hidden in the narrow streets. Steeped in culture and history, Perpignan has several museums, galleries and a cathedral, as well as the Rose Palace of the Kings of Majorca. www.perpignantourisme.com |