Tag Archive for: Coast

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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Citroën Méhari – the iconic beach buggy

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An old Citroën Méhari pickup parked on a road in front of pine trees in the sun on the Mediterranean coast

On the hike from Cadaqués to Cap de Creus, I discover a Citroën Méhari, an icon of the lifestyle shaped by beach, sun and casual ease on the (French) Mediterranean coast. With its open, colourful plastic bodywork, you could cruise stylishly along beach promenades or venture onto beaches and into sand dunes – although the four-wheel-drive model offered later was probably better suited for that. Years of use have clearly left their mark on this vehicle.
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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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The white houses of Cadaqués

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The facades of the houses on the harbour promenade in Cadaqués Old Town glow in pastel colours at dawn, Catalonia, Spain

The white houses in Cadaqués Old Town provide a perfect surface to be coloured by the changing daylight – given this was once a central part of Salvador Dalí’s life, the “canvas” metaphor is an obvious one. As a result, the character of the houses transforms, from the soft, diffused light of dawn to the harsh sunlight from the zenith, or from the cold colour temperature of the blue hour to the warm, golden sunrise.
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Stormy Welcome in Portlligat

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Portlligat Bay with Salvador Dalí's house under a dramatic sky after a thunderstorm, Catalonia, Spain

Portlligat Bay has a special atmosphere. It is nestled into the hilly coast of the Costa Brava, between the town of Cadaqués and the Cap de Creus Natural Park, at the southeastern foothills of the Pyrenees. Even today, I can well understand why Salvador Dalí once settled here. The bay also had an impact on him and is therefore present in his works. The former seclusion seems long gone, but a special magic remains, especially when you can experience a spectacular lighting mood after a retreating thunderstorm. Read more