The intense light and vibrant colours – natural or man-made – under a warm, Mediterranean sun are part of the charm of the South of France coast: the pastel shades of the house facades, the boats or buoys in bright colours, the blooming spring meadows and bougainvillea, the ripe grapes or red coastal rocks. In Collioure on the Côte Vermeille, everything comes together. Read more
Collioure was our first stop on our journey through the artistic triangle in Catalonia (as well as the places beginning with “C”): Collioure, Cadaqués and Céret. A walk through Collioure in the evening, on the coast of the Côte Vermeille in Southern France, thus offered a first impressive experience.
I covered the short distance from the campsite to the bays of Porteils by bike and therefore quickly reached my central starting point: the Château Royal, the imposing fortress in the town centre. It was the first time I had taken my old mountain bike on a trip, and I was thrilled by the added flexibility, range, and quicker access to photo spots.
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A man in a window of the apartment building “Château de le Rocasse” looks out of his room directly into the bright morning sun. Has he just woken up after a romantic night? Or is he simply enjoying the magnificent view as a traveller, looking out over the church of Notre Dame des Anges in the centre of the historic old town, and the harbour of Collioure? I never found out. Our eyes met for a moment. Then he silently disappeared back into the room, leaving me with my imagination.
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In the south of France, just before the Spanish border, the eastern foothills of the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. This is where the extensive sandy beaches of Occitania end at Argelès-sur-Mer and transition into the rocky and bay-filled Côte Vermeille. In the hinterland, the peaks of the Massif des Albères reach over 1,200 metres in altitude, a paradise for hiking and cycling. Even the first stretch of coast at Porteils, between Argelès-sur-Mer and Collioure, offers a beautiful hike. The coastal path runs in a constant series of ups and downs, past spectacular rocks and bays, to one of the most picturesque seaside resorts in Roussillion.
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The coast heading north from Talamone is already part of the Maremma Regional Park. This nature reserve in southern Tuscany covers the area south of Principina a Mare, the mouth of the Ombrone river, the Uccellina mountains and the hinterland as far as Albarese. That’s also where the visitor centre is located. Special access regulations apply for hiking, horse riding, kayaking or cycling tours. Many tours can only be done with prior registration and, in some cases, only with a guide. Read more
Talamone, a picturesque coastal village in Tuscany, has its own unique charm. Talamone offers spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The coastline is characterised by rocky cliffs, hidden coves and crystal-clear water, making the place a paradise for nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts. Visitors appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the warm hospitality of the locals. In contrast to the heavily visited – if not overcrowded – tourist destinations in northern Tuscany, as we experienced in Pisa the days before, Talamone is significantly quieter. This is particularly noticeable in the low season in September and October. The sea is still at a pleasant temperature and the sunny days are southern-warm. Read more
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