When the man with the twisted beard on an afternoon in 1963 in the station hall of perpignan Standing, he knocked on the floor a few times with his stick in theatrical manner and called, caught in his hallucinatory enlightenment: “C’est le center du monde!”– This is the center of the world.
Just like the master of Surrealism Salvador Dali saw great potential in the city of Perpignan and his monumental painting “La Gare de Perpignan” today is tantamount to a painted autobiography of the artist, we also wanted to get an idea of this important city in the middle of the French Roussillon do
A beautiful coastal road led us along the picturesque Spanish towns llançà, colera and Portbou In Perpignan, located 30 kilometers north to the Spanish border. Illusionary immersed in the beauty of the mountains and the almost endless expanse of the sea, we reached the city just a few kilometers behind the Spanish Costa Brava.
Perpignan is a lively historic city, wonderfully situated between the Pyrenees On the one, the Sea On the other hand, with French charm ecstatic. Fascinated, we strolled through the small streets of the old town. Sublimely paved streets, buildings with bright facades, immersed in the most beautiful pastel colors and inspired by the Gothic construction, reminiscent of a time when Perpignan is still considered Capital city des Kingdom of Mallorca was known.
The fully renovated King’s Castle from the 13th century as well as the cathedral”Cloître du Cimetière St. Jean” are places of interest worth seeing and above the city’s landmark”Le Castillet” the Catalan flag is blowing.
Due to the proximity to Spain and history, the city in northern Catalonia is not only convincing French architecture And all sorts of local delicacies, the Catalan flair paired with French lightness attracts countless visitors to Perpignan every year. So we looked for our way along the small boutiques and beautiful places In the mysterious little backyards with all their cafes and restaurants, which offered to be the perfect place for a little breather.
On this day, too, Perpignan lived up to his reputation as the sunniest and hottest city in France and so we insisted on the famous French department store Galeries Lafayette to look for a little cool down and end the trip with an inspiring shopping tour.
The extent to which the visionary opinion of Dalí would like to be shared about the center of the world, which is proclaimed in capital letters on the platform of Perpignan, is left to everyone, but it seems sensible at this point to Once the words of another important Spanish artist, who once found benevolently:
“If there was only one truth, one could not paint a hundred pictures on the same topic” – Pablo Picasso.
In Perpignan the Castillet is the only surviving piece of the old city wall, and the Palace of the Kings of Majorca recalls the short-lived Kingdom of Majorca. The essentials about the city, in brief.
Perpignan at a glance
- Castillet: The massive brick building is the only surviving piece of the old city wall, the tower can be climbed
- Palace of the Kings of Mallorca: Gothic residence from the 13th century, almost a century center of the short-lived kingdom of Mallorca
- further: The cathedral and the Catalan old town. Perpignan is located in northern Catalonia, on the French side of the border
Frequently asked questions about Perpignan
What is worth seeing in Perpignan?
The Castillet, the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca and the cathedral are among the most famous destinations.
Who built the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca?
The kings of Mallorca had the Gothic residence built in the 13th century. She was the center of her short-lived kingdom for almost a century.
Can you climb the Castillet?
Yes, the tower of Castillet can be climbed.
Sources: Perpignan Tourisme, Palace of the Kings of Mallorca, My France, Perpignan, Perpignan Mediterrane Tourisme, 10 places.
