Perpignan - Catalan City of the Mediterranean
Perpignan is to be found in a region of France known as Languedoc-Roussillon. It is in fact located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, close by the border with Spain. It also benefits from a stunning hinterland formed by the Pyrenees mountain chain and the well-known and equally famous Corbieres wine-growing region. For those interested in facts, Perpignan is also the southernmost city in France.
But it doesn’t stop there! Perpignan also has a most interesting history, and is equally famous for its fascinating architectural sights as it is for the modern-day tourism. The railway station in the town was made world-famous by the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who not only painted its ceiling but also gave it the strange title of the “cosmological center of the universe”.
Perpignan is old, very old! The area surrounding the city, formerly known as Ruscino (which lent its name to the whole of the region), was inhabited from the sixth century BC, and was a major trading partner with the Greek nations. In the second century BC it was taken possession of by the invading Celts. Howevern Perpignan as it is known today came into being during the middle ages when it belonged to the Counts of Roussillon who made it their headquarters. The city later on was bequeathed to the King of Aragon, in northern Spain, before passing into the hands of the kingdom of Majorca. Many of the remaining historical features of the town date from this period.
Perpignan is also well-known for being the owner of one of the most amazing and unusual carillons. It is the last surviving operational carillon that possesses a range of four full octaves. It dates from the 19th century, being constructed in the famous French bell foundry belonging to Amadee Bollee and Sons from Mans. Before being installed in the church at Perpignan, it was exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in the year 1878.
The carillon is now owned by the City of Perpignan who have recently restored it to its full original glory. Carillonists appointed by the church now play the instrument on a regular basis. And since its electrification in 1956, its music can be heard resonating around the city three times each day, morning, noon and evening, with the music to the Angelus prayer.
Perpignan is also the proud owner of four museums: the Museum of Catalan Arts and Popular Traditions, the Museum of Coins and Medals (one of the most important in France), the Museum of Natural History, and the Hyacinthe Rigaud Museum of Painting. All four museums possess magnificent collections.
In a city the size of Perpignan it often surprises the visitor just how much land is given over to grass and parkland. In fact the city is home to a huge quantity of nesting birds of many species thanks to all this greenery. The central city itself indeed embraces a good 130 hectares of parkland, whilst the outlying areas contain over 2000 hectares of cultivated land passed through by a river. The result is a veritable natural sanctuary for a variety of wildlife and bird species.
As for the regional cuisine, naturally enough the local delicacies embrace the finest of Catalan culinary delights - a culinary, indeed gastronomic, experience definitely not to be missed by all those new to the region.
So after all that, it only remains to wish you happy holidays and happy encounters with the magnificent city of Perpignan.
