A nice couple from the Le Roussillonnais camping recommended to put on comfortable shoes and make a walk until Collioure, a colorful and lively city on the Côte Vermeille.... so I didn't give it a second thought.
While by car it takes only 15 minutes, by foot is more like 1h30 - 2h, but the trip to get there totally worth the walk! Don't forget to fully charge your phone or camera battery because you'll need them for the entire day!
There are two ways to get from Argelès-sur-mer to Collioure, first, by following Google maps on national D114, which I don't recommend... even if the road is safe and barely circulated...why wouldn't you enjoy a quite and pleasant hiking through the vineyard hills and the stunning landscapes? For this, follow the rocky coast of Le Racou (check the previous post) and then, take the street next to the highway following the camping roads until you meet le Route du Pla de las Fourques that enters in the city.
Gilded vineyards and Fort Saint-Elme
Only a couple of hours away from the Catalan coast, Collioure seems more Spanish than French, it proudly hangs yellow-and-red Catalan flags and the street names are in French and Catalan, as well. The entire city it's a postcard look-alike, on each street you walk it's impossible not to stop and take a picture of the pastel houses. What a luck to walk on the streets during late autumn! no noisy tourist disturbed the silence of the village and only once in a while you could hear the crying of a baby or the cutlery ready for the lunch.
This small city it's so beautiful and vibrant that no wonder Henri Matisse and Andre Derain were inspired in some of their works by it and still today is an artistic hub, hosting over 30 galleries and workshops.
Colors and beauty at each corner
*Open the photos for a better visualization
After you finished playing in the labyrinth of streets, descent to the picturesque bay and visit Église Notre-Dame des Anges or admire the view from the barrage opposite with the city and refresh your feet in the crystalline water.
Église Notre-Dame des Anges and Le Chateau Royal
The houses are the permanent spectators of the sea
'No sky in all France is more blue than that of Collioure.' Matisse, Henri
