Looking for a sunny getaway?
Set course for Perpignan and its lilting accents, streets lined with colorful houses, squares brightened with fountains. Deeply Catalan, terribly vibrant, you'll discover its fashionable boutiques, trendy cafés and Art Deco facades.
Perpignan... the radiant one! You're at the center of Dali's world.
Day 1
- 10h. The sky is immensely blue and the air is filled with the scent of lightness. Straight ahead, the Castillet, the gateway to Perpignan, looks like a small castle. Passing under its red-brick archway, the shopping streets spread out towards the historic heart. Then it's back up to the Loge de Mer, a superb Gothic edifice housing the tourist office. Under the eternal gaze of Maillol's Venus, the buildings show their colors. Pink, ochre, yellow... On the left, St Jean Cathedral looms large with its wrought-iron bell tower.
- 12h. Time for an aperitif! Passing through Place de la République, where the cafés have taken over, we take a look at Olivier Bajard's boutique. You'll have to come back and buy the chocolates and cakes of this MOF pastry chef, chocolatier, ice-cream maker and confectioner. In the meantime, head for Rue Paratilla and its spicy flavours. Here, bars and wine cellars have brought out ham, oysters and wine.
- 14h. Shopping. In the streets, one boutique follows another. The addresses are trendy, fashionable or more timeless. In a showroom-like setting, Maison Caldeira stocks up on jewelry, decorative objects, beauty products and designer furniture. A stone's throw away, the Toiles du Soleil window displays its famous striped fabrics, still made in the department.
- 17h. In a recess of the rue des Trois Journées, Séréni'Thé offers sweets and drinks for a sweet break! Returning to the stroll, a glance at the jewelry shops reveals Perpignan garnet (IG), a dark, intense red stone and the pride of traditional craftsmanship.
- 20h. It's time for dinner. Organic, tradi, gastro, world food, Perpignan is brimming with tasty addresses featuring fresh, local produce.
- 22h. It's time to indulge in the pleasure of the light trail that colors the facades of the St Jean district; an immersive experience. But Perpignan is just as much about day as it is about night: a trip to the bars, clubs and discos to dance the night away!
Day 2
- 10 a.m.: How about a little height to discover Perpignan in all its splendor? On the top floor of Galeries Lafayette, the rooftop allows you to admire the city's rooftops, coffee in hand. Below, the Quai Vauban, with its café terraces in the shade of tall plane trees, runs alongside the Basse canalisée between lawns and flowerbeds. Serene, the former capital of the Kings of Majorca is sunny.
- 12pm: Buzzing, Les Halles is the place to be! Here, everyone meets up. At lunchtime, the atmosphere is more family-friendly. On the stalls, cheeses, charcuterie, olives, seafood and wines delight gourmets. Sit back and enjoy. Inside or outside on the large, shaded patio. In the evening, the atmosphere is guaranteed!
- 3pm: Time for culture. At 21 rue Mailly, behind a huge wooden door, lies the Musée Rigaud. In its bright, contemporary rooms, one exhibition follows another. From June 24, discover the exhibition featuring Guino and Renoir on the theme of "The Color of Sculpture", labeled an "Exhibition of National Interest".
- 5 p.m.: If you're not satisfied, you can stroll around the city in search of art galleries, boutiques and designer workshops.
