The charming monastery 'Abbaye de Saint-Martin' built upon the rocks is reached after half an hour walk from our home. Nearby are the medieval walled city 'Villefranche-de-Conflent' with two streets of souvenir shopping and the picturesque 'Eus', named one-of-the-most-beautiful-villages-of-France as well as Mosset and many more authentic villages.
At Prades, a giant open-air fresh market is held once a week. The mediterranean sea is at 1h distance (as well as the skislopes in the other direction), in half that time you reach the beautiful beach at lake Vinca. Kids will love the familyfriendly zoo at the village itself, which holds a few rare white lions.

The wheather is nice in the summer, with temperatures in July and August usually in between 25-35°C. During hot days, refreshment can be found visiting the magnificent caves of 'Les Grandes Canalettes', the popular outdoor pool of Vernet-les-Bains or simply along the streams. Should you come across a rare day of bad wheather, then hurry to the hot sulphur springs named 'les Bains de Saint-Thomas' or 'Les Bains de Llo'. It is a fantastic challenge to climb the Canigou and watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean sea. Rock climbing, parapente, horse riding, canyoning, it's all exciting practise surrounded by an unspoiled landscape.

Worth a visit further away are: 1h Perpignan (the Popes' palace), Castelnou (hill built city) 1h30 Figuères Spain (Salvador Dali Museum), Céret (Artistic cozy city), Collioure (fisherman town) 2h Carcassonne (medieval fortified city), Sète (the Venice of France), Girona Spain (Jewesh quarter) 2h30 Andorre (taxfree shopping) 3h Barcelone Spain (Gaudi Art), Avignon (Pont du Gard bridge). So count in enough time to see and do the things you like if you only come over once!