7 ideas for walks between city and nature!
Whether on foot or by bike, Perpignan has many beautiful walks to offer. So choose your walk and put on your sneakers!
Along the Têt river
You can reach the banks of the Têt by crossing the pedestrian and cycle bridge behind the Théâtre de l'Archipel. Then, from the passeig Torcatis, you'll find stairs leading down to the banks of the longest river in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Heading west up the river, you can cycle all the way to Saint-Féliu-d'Avall. But if you're on foot, it's more pleasant to make a U-turn at the railway bridge and return via the residential areas, where the little houses are charming. If you prefer to follow the course of the water to the east, then you can reach Canet-Plage by bike. If you're on foot, you can follow the riverbank as far as the Beltrame bridge, then turn around and walk along the elevated promenade.
During your walk, you can observe typical riverbank plant species, part of the riparian forest. And if you're lucky, one of the birds typical of this area may cross your path.
Stroll through Bir Hakeim Square
Just 2 steps from the historic center, cross the Allées Maillol to the Square Bir Hakeim. The city's green lung, it's an ideal place to recharge your batteries. You can, for example, bring or take a book from the Boîte à lire, then sit down on a bench or on the lawn in fine weather to devour it.
Nature lovers can contemplate the varied species of trees, plants and flowers. Near the Belloch fountain, you'll find plane trees over 200 years old, a Gingko Biloba over 30 meters tall and two 18-meter-high, century-old Washingtonia Filifera palms.
The Gare aux Arbres trail
Lovers of remarkable and heritage trees can continue their contemplation in the Quartier de la Gare, where the neighborhood association has highlighted a variety of tree species using QR codes.
So, armed with your most faithful ally (your smartphone), you can flash QR codes dotted around the station area and discover trees that are rare or uncommon in an urban environment. You'll get information on each tree, including its Latin name, place of origin and other miscellaneous details such as scents, virtues, flowering, fruit and nicknames.
Walking along Las Canals
Ideal for hot weather or for a bucolic stroll under the trees, this walk can be made on foot, leaving and returning along the same path, or by bike to Canohès, Thuir and Ille-sur-Têt.
Starting from the Catalunya district, behind the Auchan shopping center, you'll find a small wooden bridge leading to the promenade along the Canal de Perpignan. For a shorter stroll, you can leave from behind the KFC and follow the canal to the 12th-century Arcades aqueduct.
Walk along the Basse River to the Basse Gardens
From the town center, you can follow the Canal de la Basse towards the Saint-Assiscle district to reach the Jardins de la Basse. In this lovely natural area, once an irrigation canal for allotments, you can enjoy a cool, shady spot.
You'll enjoy the bucolic charm of the trees as you observe the remarkable diversity of plants and the tranquility of many species of birds, fish and insects... What's more, depending on your mood, you can go for a walk or a bike ride, or even a scooter, rollerblades or anything else you can think of.
Tour Sant Vicens Park
In this green frame, located on the border between Perpignan and Cabestany, you can stroll through 10 hectares of lush vegetation and natural landscaping. Once a collection of orchards irrigated by the La Cave stream, part of the Las Canals irrigation canals, the area has now been transformed into a living space.
In fact, the park is organized around a beautiful stretch of water, with play areas and sports trails, picnic tables and a dog park. You can reach the park on foot, by bike, by pedal or by car, as there is plenty of parking space.
Taking in the sights at Serrat d'en Vaquer
Situated on the highest hill in Roussillon, this park offers an exceptional view of Perpignan and the whole plain. Surrounded by Mediterranean flora, you can see the Albères mountains on one side and the Corbières on the other, and of course the Canigou peak and the Mediterranean Sea.
This scenic walk is also a place steeped in history and discovery, as the Fort du Serrat d'en Vaquer was built to protect Perpignan from Spanish offensives, and is also a renowned paleontological site where vertebrate fossils from the Pliocene were revealed when the fort was built. Some of these fossils are on display at the aforementioned natural history museum.
