In France there is a sky blue as the Collioure in ... I just close the shutters of my room and I have all the colors of the Mediterranean in front of me to have. - Painter Henri Mattis, French.
Matisse probably had them a century ago, in 1905, came with another artist André Derain in Collioure. Today Collioure is an attractive and charming as ever.
It was not part of our plan of Collioure in southern France (near the Spanish border) to visit, but we had the goodActivities to meet a Belgian couple named Gordon and Hilary during our trip to Carcassonne. Prompted us to visit Collioure by bus on their own. Most of the manuals not tourists among the top regional or local bus, the best option for independent travelers like us. Hilary Gordon, and full of praise for the beauty of Collioure, and if they could get there by local bus, so we could. And if we could do it, it could be. (See below for how to get fromCanet)
It was noon when we finally arrived in Collioure. Once off the bus, the smell of the sea, our senses and see the direction of the palace, one sees the Mediterranean in the distance. From the center of Air Wed Soleil bus stop, we crossed a small bridge and walked the cobblestone streets, taking in the scene before us. E 'was beyond our expectations! To our right was an old castle on the Mediterranean coast, and there were sailboatswall anchored. Directly ahead is a small beach, and in the distance you could see the outlines of the hills dotted with houses.
To our left is the old town) (from Moure: narrow cobblestone streets, homes in pink, yellow, peach or cream, terracotta roofs, green shutters or brown. Outdoor cafe under a blue, lined green, white or yellow curtains, red and yellow chairs the length of the beach. An old church, with a picture of a steeple forVillage by the sea. No wonder, Matisse fell in Collioure! Later wrote a touching in the landscape, everything I've done my thinking colors sing, without any regard for the rules and regulations ...
There is a strong French flavor, this Spanish city, and we have seen many shops in the village closed siesta (rest), after lunch. Aida and Rachel found a shop that sells espadrilles hand-stitched, with a casual sandals made of rope. Colored pottery, designer Spanish fans,Postcard recipes of Catalan cuisine and tapas on the menu at cafes are everywhere. In summer there are also local Sardane bullfights and dances.
Encountered in his book, Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle, the author of Collioure anchovies in an open market, Les Halles, in Provence. Coveted treasure of Collioure, Catalan anchovies are many specialties, such as tapenade, a spread consisting of black olives, capers and anchovies used in olive oil. After Mrs. FishLes Halles market was able to live a hundred years ago, on a diet with tapenade every day! It 'really sad that we lost this information on Collioure. Still, the taste of succulent roasted mussels (mussels) with Alioli, garlic, homemade mayonnaise flavored with herbs of Provence, were what we lost. Ah, c'est la vie!
A visit to the Royal Castle is a must if only for a magnificent view over the Mediterranean Sea. What could be more peaceful than the search for GodClear blue sky, blue sea and the jagged coastline? Or feel the gentle breeze against your body and hear the sound of the waves in the distance? Soothes the soul, soothes the senses and lifted our spirit, living in a different perspective to see. Our problems which seemed suddenly small to be seen from there.
As in Carcassonne, was the Royal Castle of Collioure built on Roman foundations. It is said that in the 13 Century, the Templars (Crusaders to the Holy Land), the castle builtWalls. There were many legends about the treasure of the Knights Templar. People speculate, in which the knight buried treasures from churches in the Holy Land. Perhaps they were buried in the royal palace? In 1642, King Louis XIII was filled with 10,000 men, including Turenne, D'Artagnan and the musketeers in the hills of Collioure. Did you know that the novel of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, is based on memoirs of D'Artagnan? Can Collioure D'Artagnan's were memorable;I do not know why, but I found the castle on the sea, romantic and charming.
Collioure has been immortalized in numerous paintings and chemin de Fauvism, you could draw the 20 reproductions of Matisse and Derain on the exact spot where they were painted. It would be an experience to see that we had known of his condition. As it was, we were browsing through the many galleries and shops of the old happy with truffle chocolates melt in your mouth. I agree with theThe motto of this city - is always Collioure Collioure. Song's Maurice Chevalier, Paris is still Paris, also applies to Collioure. It 'really beautiful, historic and peaceful. Maybe one day I may return just the anchovies and reproductions Mattisse's.
Get directions from Canet: My advice would be, the timetables of the airlines to provide transport (Perpignan-Canet) and regional buses, CG66 (Cerbere-Perpignan) in advance so you can plan ahead and not miss anyConnection. Line 1 buses Companion Canet) to Perpignan Gare SNCF and vice versa (2 euros for a round trip, or € 1.10 per single journey. Take the Number 1 bus to Perpignan and stops to Vauban. Go to the direction of the Gare routière (bus station), along a general Leclerc. Take the local bus, CG66 in Collioure (bus 37), single ticket for 6.60 euros or 13.20 return. Get off at Center Air Wed bus stop Soleil in Collioure. Do not forget thatthe last trip back to Perpignan by bus CG66 is at 6:30 Clock. Then you have to run the last bus trip to Canet begin at 7:47 at the Palais des Congres (and not Vauban! Stop) for ... Is not exciting?
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