The marvellous green valley of Fenouillèdes

A traverse which joint the Mediterranean though the Atlantic

At the beginning on prehistorically century where lived our ancestor, the first Europeans humanoid from Tautavel, gliding to the Middle Ages of the Cathares castles or to discovering our Romance inheritance when you visit the abbeys and the churches, there is only one step towards the modern art by the visit of the museum of "Modern art of Céret".
The valley of Fenouillèdes: land of white limestone's and red vineyards, where Agly start to be a long ribbon of transparency. Mysterious country where forests of fir trees, pines, beeches, vineyards, pastures and deep ravines following one after one, where limestone make place to the granite (text Florence Delaunay - Joel Mettay - Alain Ayats)

Narrow, deep and mysterious

The Gorges de Galamus
The Agly river is fed by many sources and sometimes hot resurgences (27°C) that you find all along throe the gorges. An abundant source (150L/s) ensures the water consumption of the village of Saint-Paul-of-Fenouillet.
The "Gorges de Galamus" a natural classed and protected site whose propose many surprises. Southwards on the end of the gorges where the department of "Pyrénées-Orientales" start you will discover a panoramic view on the pike of the Canigou, the highest mountain of the department. The traverses of the gorges by car can be practised almost all the year. This place is very much attended in summertime. The narrowness of the road causes problems of circulation. Consequently, in August and July, the circulation is regulated. A device of alternate circulation is set up on 1 km 500. Because of narrowness of the road, it is impossible to make half-turn once that you are engaged.
Best to traverse the "Gorges de Galamus" by walking and if you are courageous to do the excursion from St. Paul the landscapes offers splendid sights on the gorges and the neighbourhoods. Down the gorges it's favourable to the cannoning. The descent in Cannoning start on site the village of Cubières and ending site the Car park of the View-point at Saint-Paul-of-Fenouillet.

Place of pilgrimage

The Hermitage of St Antoine de Galamus:
This hermitage exists since VIIe century. Initially reduced with only one cave where the basins are, the place contains today a vault stuck to the wall of the Throats. Many old genévriers of Phénicie of more than five hundred years cling to the rocks overhanging the staircases going down on the interior court. The vault was built following the "miracle" of 1782 during which many villagers of Saint Paul de Fenouillet were saved of an epidemic of "suette" (kind of gangrene where one sweats much) grace the protection of Saint-Anthony. For this day, in the medium of the rocks a plane tree almost without water has pushed. It is immense today and proposes its peaceful shade with the visitors.
The places were refitted in XVème century by the franciscains. They then became a traditional place of pilgrimage the Easter Mondaies for Occitans and the Whit Mondays for all the south of Occitanie and Catalonia.

One day discovering:
- Discovered the “Tet” valley and the “Agly” with a touristy train: The yellow train and the “Picasso train of Fenouillèdes
- One day hydrotherapy in the hot baths of DORRES, of LLO or ST. - THOMAS
- Massages and Jacuzzi in the small station of RENNES LES BAINS and AXAT
- With the spirits of Cathar visit Gorge of GALAMUS; the castle of PEYREPERTUSE and the castle of QUERIBUS.
- Our inheritance: churches, vaults, cloisters and Romance abbeys.
- Discovered Fauna and Flora of our department with a guide specialist on the matter....
- Our prehistoric past: museums of "the first European Man of Tautavel " and the museum of prehistory in Belesta.
- The museum of modern art of Céret, various the natural history museum of the area.
- Shopping: to carry the memories of holidays to still make going the pleasure after......
- Visit of the goat farm: breeding of goats and manufacture of cheeses + to taste
- Industrial Tourism: "The saline ones of the island St Martin in Gruissan "(Aude)
The guided tour of saline lasts 1h30 on a pedestrian course of approximately 2 km which the comments on different phases of production alternate with botanical information and ornithological observations.