Road Trip 2024 - October 4th, Day 3. Follow us on our journey from Pals, Catalonia, on the Costa Brava, Spain to Perpignan, situated in the Occitanie region, Southern France. 173km travelled.
Today is the day we have been planning for, the journey into Southern France, but first there are still some areas of Spain to explore along the way.
Leaving our lovely aparthotel in Pals, we decided to visit L'Escala as it was just a short distance away.
L'Escala is a charming coastal town located on the Costa Brava in North Eastern Catalonia, Spain, and is known for its beautiful beaches, rich maritime history, and vibrant fishing culture, it offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural attractions. L'Escala is famous for its production of anchovies, which are considered a local delicacy.
Finding somewhere to park this time of year was very easy, as we were quite early in the morning but being out of season a lot of the shops and restaurants were closed, and the place had no real atmosphere
We enjoyed a walk along the promenade in the early morning sunshine and came across L'Escalas most famous statue, the monument to the Cobla, this is made in bronze, with eleven life-size figures of cobla musicians and their instruments. and is a tribute to the town's rich musical tradition, specifically the cobla, the traditional Catalan music ensemble that plays sardana. This music and the sardana dances are still performed in the town during fiestas.
Getting hungry we thought as this was our last day in Spain for a while we should have a traditional Spanish Breakfast of tostada con tomate y queso, finding somewhere open was a bit of a task, but finally we found a seafront restaurant, but what a difference in price compared to anywhere in the Valencian region we were charged just under17€ for 2 tostadas and 2 coffees, the average price for this back in Benidorm is around 7€, its a good job we were sitting down at the time.
Road Trip 2024 - Day 3
Shortly after leaving the town of L'Escala we noticed signs to some Roman Ruins and made a slight detour to check them out, thinking it would only be a short stop.
Parking was once again easy and we paid the entrance fee of 7€ each, wondering what we would find. The site is managed by the Catalonia Archaeological Museum, which offers guided tours and displays many of the artifacts discovered during excavations, and provides historical context for the ruins.
The Empúries Roman City Ruins are one of the most significant archaeological sites in Catalonia, and gave us a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past, they contained both Greek and Roman ruins, making it unique as a place where the existence of two ancient civilizations have both made an impact.
Greek Origins - Empúries was originally founded by Greek settlers from Phocaea around the 6th century BC. They established a trading port called Emporion ("marketplace" in Greek), which became an important hub for commerce in the Mediterranean. Today you can see the remnants of walls, public squares (agoras), and temples.
The Roman Expansion - In the 1st century BC, after the arrival of the Romans, Empúries expanded into a large Roman city, which eventually overshadowed the Greek settlement. The Roman part of the ruins includes well-preserved structures such as:
Houses with intricate mosaics (domus).
Bath complexes.
A forum, the city’s central public square.
Temples and an amphitheater, where public events and games were held.
One of the most famous artifacts discovered at Empúries is the statue of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. A reproduction of the statue now stands at the site, while the original is kept in a nearby museum. The presence of this statue indicates the religious and cultural importance of the city.
One of the most striking aspects of Empúries is its location, right by the sea offering breath-taking views and making it a unique place where history meets nature. The weather was perfect for having a wander around and we really enjoyed our visit.
Empúries holds special significance in modern Catalonia as well as it was the site where, in 1992, the Olympic flame for the Barcelona Olympics was brought ashore.
Road Trip 2024 - Day 3
Back on the road again and on our way to our last stop in Spain, Cadaques, the scenery on the drive over the mountains was stunning. In fact the scenic drive makes the visit to Cadaques worth the visit, even if you never explore the town itself.
Cadaqués is a charming coastal town located in the Alt Empordà region of Catalonia, Spain, nestled along the Costa Brava.
Known for its whitewashed houses, crystal-clear waters, and its connection to the famous surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, who spent much of his life in the nearby village of Portlligat, just a short walk from Cadaqués. His former home, is now the Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí.
One of Cadaqués’ architectural highlights is the Church of Santa Maria. Perched on a hill in the centre of the town.
Cadaqués is set in a natural bay surrounded by the rugged hills of the Cap de Creus Peninsula, which gives it a unique, isolated feel. The town is known for its beautiful beaches and coves, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
The narrow, winding streets lined with whitewashed houses and blue shutters are reminiscent of a traditional Mediterranean fishing village.
Despite its growing popularity, Cadaqués has managed to maintain much of its old-world charm, partly due to its relatively remote location. The winding mountain road that leads to the town keeps it from being overrun by mass tourism, preserving its quiet and relaxed atmosphere. its a very picturesque town, offering stunning landscapes, a thriving artistic heritage, and an authentic Mediterranean experience and we loved it.
On with the journey, towards the French Boarder, this was a spectacular journey along the rugged Northeastern coast of the Costa Brava and the views were just stunning as we drove through some pretty towns and villages with wonderful ports and up and down some quite steep mountainous areas, not a journey for the faint hearted, but an area we would like to discover more of.
Road Trip 2024 - Day 3
To be honest I am not sure what this place was called, it may have been Portbou but knowing that the price of cigarettes was going to be much higher once we crossed the boarder into France we decided to stock up beforehand and actually found a tabac open opposite the port.
Finally on a very quiet road, we slipped over the French Boarder, and our first destination in France was Collioure, after parking the car near the port we both needed to use the public WC, shocked is not the word, they still had the old fashioned squat, hole in the floor type toilets, using a walking stick at the moment there was no way I could maintain my balance to use one of those, luckily there was a disabled toilet available, one with a seat, not the cleanest in the world but it did the job, my main worry now was that all public toilets in France were going to be like these, luckily they were not.
Collioure is a stunning coastal town located in the Occitanie region of Southern France, just a short distance from the border with Spain and the Costa Brava. Nestled along the Vermilion Coast (Côte Vermeille), Collioure is famous for its Mediterranean beauty, rich history, and vibrant artistic legacy.
Collioure is known for its picturesque setting on the Mediterranean Sea, with a charming harbour framed by colourful houses, azure waters, and pebble beaches.
The town’s main beach, Plage de Collioure, offers stunning views of the surrounding hills and the iconic Church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, whose bell tower is a distinctive landmark right by the water. The nearby beaches and rocky coves are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkelling and there were even a few brave souls in the water this time of year.
Collioure boasts several important historical landmarks that reflect its strategic location and storied past. Key sites include:
Church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges: This 17th-century church is one of Collioure’s most recognizable symbols, with its bell tower that was once a lighthouse. Its seaside location and beautiful Baroque interior.
Château Royal de Collioure: This imposing medieval fortress, dating back to the 12th century, was once a residence of the kings of Mallorca and later served as a strategic military base. Overlooking the harbour, the castle offers panoramic views of the town and sea.
Fort Saint-Elme: Perched on a hill above the town, this fort from the 16th century provides stunning views of the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. It played a key role in guarding the region during conflicts between France and Spain.
Located near the Spanish border, Collioure has a strong Catalan influence that is visible in its traditions, cuisine, and festivals. The town celebrates Catalan culture with events like sardana dances and La Fête de Saint Vincent, its annual festival in August.
Although we have only travelled quite a short distance (173km), we have packed a lot in and it was time to head to our accommodations for the night.
Road Trip 2024 - Night 3 Accommodation - Appart City Confort Perpignan Centre Gare - 58€, Parking was an additional 8€ and a deposit of 50€ taken.
This aparthotel was situated right opposite the train station and easy access to the centre of Perpignan.
The room was nice and bright, a good size, the kitchenette was equipped with a stove, fridge and microwave. and we had the added bonus of a balcony, perfect for our one nights stay.
As we had already eaten in Collioure we decided to plan tomorrows journey and overnight accommodation and had an early night.
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