Vermillion Coast a great alternative to French Riviera

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 8 years ago

Vermillion Coast a great alternative to French Riviera

By Denise Gadd
Collioure on France's Cote Vermeille: Matisse and Picasso were inspired by its light.

Collioure on France's Cote Vermeille: Matisse and Picasso were inspired by its light.Credit: AFP


There are two sides to the South of France. The Cote d'Azur, better known as the French Riviera, is chic, glamorous and uber expensive, a natural haunt of the rich and famous who flock to the Cap D'Antibes, Cannes, St Tropez, Cap Ferrat and Monaco to while away the summer in grand mansions or float around the Mediterranean on luxury boats.

Further around the coast, at the foothills of the Pyrenees, the Cote Vermeille - the Vermillion Coast - is the opposite. Low key and relaxed, it's more family friendly and less expensive, with activities centred around the beach, market shopping and village life.

The two sides are totally different. Rather like the Mornington Peninsula and the Surf Coast.

The Cote Vermeille is in the Pyrenees-Orientales region of southern France, near the Spanish border, and stretches from the delightful seaside village of Argeles-sur-Mer to the border village of Cerbere. Also in this group of coastal villages is St Cyprien, Collioure and Port-Vendres.

St Cyprien has the third largest marina in Europe and three wide beaches with stunning views of the Pyrenees. There are plenty of fun activities for families including horse riding, bike riding, walking and kite and windsurfing. The Cala Gogo eurocamp site offers direct beach access and a variety of accommodation from tents to caravans and bungalows. There are two pools, a restaurant, cafe and nightly entertainment. It is dog friendly.

Collioure is idyllic with three beaches and many restaurants, hotels, cafes and boutiques plus a royal castle, lighthouse and charming medieval streets. Artist trails reflect its history with painters such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso inspired by the southern light. On August 15 the town's population increases dramatically as crowds pour in to celebrate the annual Saint Vincent festival and watch the huge fireworks display.

Argeles-sur-Mer is on the only east-facing coastline in France. A lovely village, it has a wonderful market, a large marina, bars and restaurants with three wide sandy beaches.

There are nightly festivals in the villages from June to August with markets, food and dancing. The tourist office in each village has festival dates. They are not to be missed.

The Pyrenees-Orientales region is part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, a beautiful part of France with spectacular tourist attractions including Carcassonne, a medieval fortified town, where the horses drawing the carriages wear crocheted headgear to protect them from the flies and the heat.

Advertisement

Perpignan is only a 45-minute drive from the Cote Vermeille – or seven minutes by local train – and well worth a visit, along with Sete, the scene of an annual jousting competition and Montpellier, the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and the eighth largest city in France.

GETTING THERE

Melbourne to Paris

Virgin Australia $1558

Fast train from Paris to Montpellier then local train to Elne or Argeles sur Mer.

WHERE TO STAY

La Lagune Beach Resort and Spa, 28, Avenue Armand Lanoux

Cala Gogo Les Capellans, Avenue Armand Lanoux www.camping-le-calagogo.fr

WHERE TO EAT

Waikiki Beach Club, St Cyprien beach, Joa Casino Saint-Cyprien, Quai Arthur Rimbaud.

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading