Perpignan, between the Canigou and the Mediterranean, is the capital of French Catalonia and the only major town in the Pyrénées-Orientales. A stroll through the narrow streets of old Perpignan will reveal the broad sweep of its past: the Gothic palace of the kings of Majorca and Aragon, symbol of the town's power in the XIIIth century; the former Castillet prison which now houses the Catalan museum of popular arts and traditions; Saint-Jean cathedral; and of course the famous railway station, which Salvador Dali proclaimed to be the "centre of the world"...

The Canigou mountain in spring, seen from Perpignan centre

			Tiles and archways, light and colour: this is typical Perpignan
		Over the centuries, Perpignan has successively hosted gypsies, Spanish refugees fleeing from civil war and, since the 1960s, North Africans and Portuguese. Today, its 115,000 inhabitants represent over one third of the department's population. It has expanded due to tourism and the production of fruit and vegetables. Its international market, "Grand Saint Charles", is second only to Rungis (leading French market).

				Living traditions: every Good Friday you can see the red-hooded "Sanch processionne"
			Perpignan is resolutely tuned in to a European future. It is counting on its proximity to Barcelona (1h30 on the motorway) and its university: a new campus is already hosting 5,000 students.

 

Historical highlights

Middle Ages 927: First mention of a house called Perpinianum. XIIIth century: Perpignan and its surrounding region, Roussillon, are included in the County of Barcelona then the kingdom of Catalonia-Aragon. The town was long disputed, passing from French to Spanish hands and back again... 1659: The Pyrenees Treaty laid down the border between France and Spain. Fearing Spanish attacks, Vauban had the town fortified. Modern times XXth century: Perpignan's population increased as vineyards and market gardening really took off, overflowing the town's ramparts.

 

	Practical tips