A visit to Collioure

Collioure is one of those places where beauty is forged in red.

The light, born in the sky and the sea, rises to assault the forms, revealing them to themselves, then devours them and settles in their place: multitude, shell, cloth of gold, frozen fire, volumes of embers and azure.

René Barjavel (1911-1985)

The Mouré district, the Church of Our Lady of the Angels and its bell tower

This small, entirely pedestrianized district is charming with its cobbled streets, colorful houses, flower-filled balconies, the Admiralty Quay where it's pleasant to stroll, its few brightly colored Catalan boats, its cafes overlooking Boramar Beach, and of course, the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, whose silhouette is reflected in the water.

While the church's interior surprises with the richness of its nine carved and gilded wooden altarpieces, including an imposing Baroque high altar, it is its striking round tower, a former port lighthouse now serving as a bell tower, that you will remember most.

The Royal Castle of Collioure

An imposing fortress, the castle has undergone continuous transformations since its initial construction in the 7th century. Counts of Roussillon, Kings of Majorca, Kings of Aragon, and Kings of Majorca were its successive owners before Roussillon was annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1659 (Treaty of the Pyrenees). The fortress—further reinforced by Vauban in the 17th century—is worth visiting, with few furnishings but magnificent rooms and spaces. The castle regularly hosts exhibitions and performances. To learn more about the castle

The Fauvist Trail

The light in Collioure is wonderful, especially at the beginning and end of the day. Matisse, Derain, Picasso, Chagall, Vlamynck, and Braque set up their easels here and brought the colors of their canvases to life. A walking tour of the town, punctuated by some twenty reproductions of their paintings, is available. Guided tours are, of course, offered by the Tourist Office, and they are a wonderful way to discover the town. Note: The Collioure Museum of Modern Art, called the Peské Museum, has a small collection and limited resources for organizing temporary exhibitions. The main Museum of Modern Art in the region is located in the peaceful town of Céret (45 minutes from the hotel), where many artists also stayed at the beginning of the 20th century.

Fort Saint-Elme

This fort, built in 1344 by the King of Aragon, was enlarged in the 15th century by Louis XI and then in the 16th century by Charles V. Returning to French rule in the 17th century under Louis XIII and Louis XIV, and serving as a strategic point for controlling the region, its defenses were improved by Vauban. You can reach it by car (5 minutes from the village center), on foot (30 minutes from the Museum of Modern Art – be aware, the slope is steep), or by taking the little tourist train. The view is splendid. If the fort is open (see opening hours and prices), don't hesitate to go inside to explore its interior, the small exhibition that recounts its history, and its magnificent terrace (360° view). Knight's robes and princess dresses, available free of charge at the reception desk, will delight your young children. Note: the other fort in Collioure (Fort Miradou) is not open to visitors; it houses the military training camp, and you will regularly see them exercising on land, in the water, or in the air.