"Chambres d'hôtes" 3, Place Colonel Roger, 66200 ELNE Tel 00(33)468 22 31 95

Foto van Elne, met centraal de kathedraal.Elne is situated at 5 Km from the seashore and at 12 Km from Perpignan, at the foot of the Albères and of the Pyrenees. A meeting as well with the mountains and the sea…
An invitation to explore the vast natural resorts and the wine routes of Languedoc-Roussillon and to discover its cultural beauty...
Downtown, numerous cosy shops, picturesque restaurants and pubs with pavements out front stand peacefully between the ancient city walls and gates. This area prides itself in its fruit and vegetables. These are for sale in the local market (3 x week) and in local shops.

Elne, a small art town between the mountains and the sea.
The cathedral was built in the 11th century, in what is known as 'Haute Elne', on the remains of the ancient Gallic-roman oppidum 'Illiberis' - Elne was the Episcopal seat of Roussillon from the 6th to the 17th century. The monastery with its blue-veined marble splendour is one of the most beautiful ones of Catalonian France.
Today it houses an archaeological museum. Guided visits are organised starting from the monastery to the cathedral, the preserved city walls and the Terrus museum. This museum shows the works of the painter of the same name (1857-1944), a friend of the more famous H. Matisse, and of the sculptor A. Maillol (1861-1922).

The whole year through, concerts and festivities are taking place, folklore and tradition are still alive in for example the 'sardane', a dance performed every Wednesday evening in Summer: a very special event, indeed.

From Elne, a 5 Km drive between vineyards and orchards leads to the coast and natural resort of the old 'embouchure du Tech' with its sandy beach. Nearby is the sea-resort St-Cyprien. There are plenty of opportunities for water sports, and also to play tennis, do horseriding and golf. Away from the sea, you have a choice of beautiful excursions to the nearby mountains: the Corbières in the North, the Pyrenees in the West and the Albères in the South.

Besides numerous splendid Romanesque and Gothic buildings, it is also more than worthwhile to visit the Cathar fortresses of Peyrepertuse and Quéribus. Prehistory is brought to live again in the museum of Tautavel. Furthermore, there are the Gorges de Galamus, the picturesque sea-resort Collioure, etc, etc. (See Excursions Olso)