Artist Salvador Dali proclaimed that the Perpignan rail station is the center of the universe. It wasn’t as crazy a statement as it sounds.
Perpignan is the last major stop before trains continue on to Spain or, eventually, Portugal. Perpignan is a thriving university town and an ever-bustling urban environment. Perpignan was once the capital of the nation of Catalonia, and now serves in that role for the Pyrénées-Orientales department.
It is close to the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Vineyards dot the landscape along the coast. Not merely a standard French village, it is heavily populated by Spaniards and North Africans. It is a haven for artists, and it is filled with unique boutiques and hip bars.
Perpignan's Blessed Location
Perpignan is situated near France’s stunning Cote Vermeille (the Red Coast), surrounded by delightful seaside resort towns like Argèles-Plage and Carnet-Plage. It is a short drive into mountain cities like stunning Prades or south to the Spanish border.The People of Perpignan
The people of Perpignan are generous and friendly, as well as fiercely independent. The Catalan flag still flies proudly in many spots around the city, and the old Catalan language is commonly spoken here.Perpignan Culture
The Catalan flag is one of the world’s oldest. Legend has it that its gold background with four red stripes was created when the antique nation’s 9th century emporer, Louis le Pieux, dragged his war-bloodied fingers across a shield belonging to the Count of Barcelona, Guifré el Pelos (Wilfred the Hairy).Perpignan History and Geography
Perpignan and much of the region has changed hands frequently over the centuries. Initially founded in the 10th century as the capital of the counts of Roussillon, it later became capital of the Catalan territory of Majorca.Eventually, the region became part of France when the Pyrenees Treaty was signed in 1659. The area’s connections to old Catalan and to its neighbors in Spain are obvious to this day.
Frequently, you will find that operating hours conform to the Spanish style of stores closing and eateries opening for a late lunch (around 2 p.m.), where other French regions typically see closings for a mid-day lunch around noon.