Famous for its imposing mountains, clear lakes, lush green forests, pristine beaches and rushing rivers, the Pyrénées-Orientales is a great holiday destination. But the panorama would not be complete without its picturesque villages. Five of them are also among the Most Beautiful Villages in France, a label awarded to some 180 French municipalities. Here are the main points of interest that you can discover there.
Eus
The pearl of Catalonia, Eus is distinguished above all by its sloping cobbled streets, its stone houses and its traditional gardens. A typical medieval architecture which exudes a particular charm, according to the opinion of the many artists who have stayed there. The village has one of the highest levels of sunshine in France, which has given rise to the organization of an astonishing sporting challenge, organized every last Sunday in August for 20 years, the “Course des lizards “.
Villefranche-de-Conflent
Villefranche-de-Conflent has nothing to envy of it, since the town is even one of the 50 most visited French sites. A reputation due in particular to its ramparts and its fort, reworked in the 17th centurye century by Vauban, the military architect of Louis XIV. The village is also known for its yellow train, which connects its station to that of Latour-de-Carol, allowing passengers to enjoy the sumptuous landscapes of the Cerdagne plateau.
Evol
With its houses with thick schist walls and slate roofs and its narrow, steep streets, the hamlet of Evol is also one of the jewels of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Among the must-see sites is the Saint-André church, a religious building which stands out for its square bell tower, its conjurador, its altarpiece of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and its Romanesque virgin. The village strives to perpetuate ancestral traditions, marked by the transhumance of sheep, and the legends of fairies and witches.
Castelnau
In Catalan, Castelnou means “new castle”. A name which comes from the fortress built in thee century at the top of the village, which has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. If the town has managed to admirably preserve its medieval heritage, it is today renowned for its local gastronomy. As reported Generation Travel you can notably enjoy the bougnette, a kind of donut, the cargolade, a dish made from snails, the Catalan turrón, a honey confectionery, and finally the Byrrh, a spirit.
Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste
Located on the border with Spain, to the south of the Canigou massif, and also partly fortified by Vauban, the town of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste obtained its classification among the Most Beautiful Villages in France on 1is July 2023. One more label for the village, which includes six ZNIEFF (Natural zones of ecological, fauna and flora interest), four Natura 2000 sites and a protected area, and including the Romanesque church of Sainte-Juste-et- Sainte-Ruffine has been a historic monument since 1921.
