Tag Archive for: Catalonia

Vernet-les-Bains – charming atmosphere and spectacular nature

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Clouds and mist over the old town of Vernet-les-Bains in front of the mountains of the French Pyrenees at sunrise, Occitania, France

After Prats-de-Mollo, Vernet-les-Bains was our second secluded destination at the foot of the imposing Canigou Massif in the French Pyrenees. Known as a health resort with a mild microclimate and thermal springs, it’s a perfect place for relaxation, culture, and outdoor adventures. The days when the town was fully booked with spa guests and summer visitors escaping the hot lowlands and coast are long gone. In the old town, rural depopulation is evident with many empty buildings. Nevertheless, Vernet-les-Bains combines charming atmosphere, historical sites, and spectacular nature, seclusion and tranquillity. This was exactly the mix we had hoped for. Read more

Céret and the Arts

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A group of elderly artists painting in the square with the Pablo Picasso fountain in the old town of Céret, France

Céret, the picturesque small town in Occitania, Southern France, has captivated numerous famous artists. The unique combination of stunning landscapes, mild climate, Mediterranean atmosphere, and vibrant cultural life has made Céret a hotspot in the art scene. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Juan Gris, as well as composers and sculptors, found inspiration here and immortalised the town as a motif in their works. On our journey through the artistic triangle in Catalonia – Collioure, Cadaqués, and Céret – we could easily understand why.
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Céret, the inconspicuous beauty

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The central square with the

On our journey through the artistic triangle in Catalonia, we had already gained many impressions along the coast of the Côte Vermeille and the Cap de Creus with the towns of Collioure and Cadaqués. Now the path led us away from the sea into the hinterland to the foothills of the Pyrenees. There, not far from the dominant mountain massif of the Pic de Canigou, lies the small French town of Céret in the fertile Tech valley, which is only at first glance inconspicuous (the third location of our trip starting with “C”). However, Céret is a unique place with a special atmosphere and it captured our hearts. There are many reasons for this.
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The Casino of Friendship

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Men waiting on a sunny morning for the Bar Casino to open on the harbour promenade of Cadaqués, Catalonia, Spain

The Casino is one of the most striking buildings on the central waterfront promenade of Cadaqués. Casino is also a traditional name for a building with club rooms, a dining hall, or often for the main village pub where everyone met: from grandparents to grandchildren on Sundays, and also (starving) artists, writers or workers during the week. The building is owned by the “Friendship Society of Cadaqués” (Societat l’Amistat Cadaqués) and, in addition to the popular bar on the ground floor, houses three exhibition halls and a large, prestigious terrace overlooking the bay. Read more

Rocks and Coves at Cap de Creus

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Morning sun over a rocky cove opposite Cadaqués Old Town, Catalonia, Spain

The Cap de Creus peninsula marks the easternmost point of mainland Spain. Like a backbone, the eastern foothills of the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean coast here. West of a line from El Port de la Selva to Roses, the coastal mountains separate Cadaqués and the Cap de Creus Natural Park from the rest of the Costa Brava. Until the construction of the only access road in the 19th century, Cadaqués was only accessible by sea. Numerous long-distance hiking trails, for example, along the main ridge of the Pyrenees to the Atlantic, begin or end here.
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Street art in Cadaqués

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“Colmado”, collage of a red wooden door of a general store with a painted meter box in Cadaqués Old Town, Catalonia, Spain

While Dalí seems omnipresent, anyone walking through the inconspicuous-looking alleys and streets of Cadaqués with open eyes can also discover special street art in unusual places. This is because many homeowners have had their electricity meter boxes or other distribution boxes painted with various motifs and styles. In this way, art is everywhere and doesn’t just take place inside galleries or museums.

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Riba Pitxot

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“Riba Pixtot III”, Cadaqués, Spain

The Riba Pitxot promenade in Cadaqués captivated and inspired me. The shapes and surfaces of these striking buildings in Cadaqués’ white old town, with their archways, arcades, colourful doors, and shutters, invite creative engagement. The spirit of Surrealism, Cubism, and many other art movements still lingers here, along with their famous representatives like Dalí or Picasso, who also drew inspiration and strength from this Costa Brava location and, in turn, left their artistic mark.
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