Page 479 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

hairpin bends on the D618
approach road reveals the TOP PLACES TO
3
simple square tower and TAKE THE
round apse of this remote WATERS
Romanesque structure, which
is surrounded by a botanical Amélie-les-Bains
garden of indigenous herbs Found near Céret, these
and woodland plants, clinging mineral springs fill
to the mountainside. ther mal baths famed
Inside the cool and austere since Roman times for
12th-century building there is relieving of skin issues.
a surpris ingly elaborate chapel
tribune, its columns and fine Vernet-les-Bains
arches glowing from the local The sub-tropical
red-veined marble, artistically microclimate here has
carved by the anony mous attracted visitors since
Master of Cuixà, whose work the belle époque. Kipling
can be seen in many buildings was a big fan (www.
through out the region. Note vernet-les-bains.fr/).
the strange beasts and the St-Thomas-les-Bains
verdant flora featured in the Naturally-heated to
capital carvings, especially 58⁰C (136⁰F), these
the rose of Roussillon. sulphur springs enable
you to dip in the outdoor
capitals incorporated in local pools even in winter
buildings. In 1925 he sold the 7 (www.bains-saint-
carvings to the Metropolitan thomas.fr).
Museum of Art in New York, Céret
where they were used to form ! E7 ⌂ Pyrénées-
the basis of the remarkable Orientales @ n 5 rue
Met Cloisters museum – an Saint Ferréol; www. pieces donated by Picasso,
accurate re-creation of a vallespir-tourisme in cluding a series of ceramic
Romanesque abbey in the bowls painted with scenes of
unlikely setting of Manhattan. Surrounded by a cloud of pink bullfighting; and paintings by
Down in the town of Prades, blossom in the early spring, Matisse, Chagall, Juan Gris and
the Eglise St-Pierre has a Céret produces the very first Salvador Dalí.
southern Gothic wrought iron cherries of the year. Th annual The town’s Catalan heritage
belfry and a Baroque Catalan cherry festi val, held over a is evident in regular bullfights
interior. The town is also well- weekend in May or early June, that are held in the arena, and
known for the legacy of the with music, dancing and in its Sardana dance festivals,
Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, cherry-related events. which take place in July.
who spent many years here in There’s a Spanish feel to the Around Céret the mineral
exile from Franco’s Spain; the tiled and painted façades and waters have long been used
town’s popular annual Festival loggias of the buildings. The for their restorative properties.
Pablo Casals, featuring around town was popular with artists A short drive from Céret is the
35 concerts of classical and including Picasso, Braque and spa town of Amélie-les-Bains,
chamber music is held in the Matisse, and the sophisticated where fragments of its Roman
abbey in his memory. Musée d’Art Moderne houses baths have been discovered.
a remarkable col lec tion. It has Beyond, in Arles-sur-Tech,
works by the Catalan artists the charming Eglise de Ste-
Tapiès and Capdeville; 50 Marie has some fine frescoes
6 "' from the 12th-century and a
Prieuré de Serrabone sarcophagus, which, according
to local lore, produces drops
! D7 ⌂ Boule d’Amont
§ 04 68 84 09 30 (tourist Did You Know? of unaccount ably pure water
office) # 10am–6pm daily every year.

¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 1 Nov, 25 Dec Torches lit at a
midsummer bon fire Musée d’Art Moderne
Perched high up on the atop Pic du Canigou are "= ⌂ 8 blvd Maréchal
northern flanks of Pic du used to light fires all Joffre # 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
Canigou, the sacred mountain over Catalonia. (to 7pm daily Jul–Sep) ¢ Oct–
of the Catalans, is the priory Jun: Tue, 1 Jan, 1 May, 1 Nov
of Serrabone. A final lap of & 25 Dec ∑ musee-ceret.com
479

478-479_EW_France.indd 479 30/01/2019 16:44