The Best Things to Do in Perpignan - Frenchly

"Wedged between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, just a short drive from Spain, Perpignan sits slightly off the classic South of France circuit. It doesn't try to compete with Nice or Marseille. Instead, it unfolds at its own pace, with palm-lined boulevards, terracotta rooftops, and the hum of daily life drifting out from café terraces. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and easy access to both beaches and mountains, Perpignan is ideally located."

"Perpignan is the historic capital of French Catalonia, and that dual identity shapes everything. You hear Spanish inflections in conversations, see Gothic stone buildings beside colorful townhouses, and move easily from a long French lunch to an evening of tapas-style drinks. It's not a place to rush. Pleasure here comes from wandering, stopping, tasting, and looking up. Here are some of the best things to do in Perpignan, from historic landmarks and local markets to sunny walks and great places to eat."

"Built in the 14th century as a fortified gate, the Castillet once protected the medieval city and later served as a prison. Today it houses the Casa Pairal museum, which explores Catalan life through reconstructed interiors, tools, and folk objects. But the real highlight comes after climbing the tight spiral staircase. From the top terrace, the tile and stone of the city spread out in warm tones beneath you."

Perpignan lies between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean near Spain, offering more than 300 days of sunshine and easy access to beaches and mountains. The city combines French and Catalan influences reflected in language, architecture, and food, with palm-lined boulevards and terracotta rooftops creating a relaxed atmosphere. Historic highlights include the 14th-century Castillet housing the Casa Pairal museum and offering panoramic views after climbing its spiral staircase, and the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste with its brick and river-stone walls and a wide nave flooded with soft colored light. The city rewards wandering, local markets, tapas-style evenings, and unhurried strolls.

Read at Frenchly