Despite economic tension, this underrated destination is not lacking in spirit or culture. Perpignan is one of the most Southern cities in France, close to the French-Spanish border. People here speak mostly French, but there are quite a few speakers of Catalan, the same language spoken in Barcelona.
Many of the street signs are bilingual, so you can learn some new vocabulary just by walking around. I also love the mix of cuisines; here you can enjoy French specialties like wine, cheese, pastries and more as well as Catalan tapas and seafood.
The weather here is almost always sunny and each little town has so much charm. Perpignan is unique because it is strategically located between the Mediterranean sea and the Pyrenees mountains. Eager to escape on a hike after visiting the city? Want to visit Spain? Perpignan is close to the border, so it would be easy to visit Perpignan on the way to Spain.
The Perpignan area was once occupied by ancient Romans, much like the rest of Southern France. It became a town in the Middle ages and was the capital of the Rousillon region. Perpignan eventually became part of France again after being captured in the Thirty Years War. You can learn even more about the history of this multicultural city by visiting some of the historical sites that still exist today!
Once you arrive in Perpignan, you might feel hungry. Here you can pick up a map and ask the local guides any questions you have about the city. If you want to do something fun, but touristy, you can hop on the petit train de Perpignan , which will take you on a guided tour of the city. The interior is quite ornate and you can see a salle des mariage s, the room where locals must go for the civil marriage ceremony.
