Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Train travelers can also day-trip to Spain, either to Barcelona (4/day, 3-4 hours, 1-2
transfers) or to the closer Figueres (4-7/day, 1-2 hours, 1 transfer). Get train schedules at
the station.
To see the art that Collioure inspired, you'll have to drive 25 windy miles inland to this
pleasing town, featuring fountains and mountains at its doorstep. Céret's claim to fame
is its modern-art museum, with works by some of Collioure's more famous visitors, in-
cluding Picasso, Joan Miró, Chagall, and Matisse (€8, daily July-mid-Sept 10:00-19:00,
mid-Sept-June 10:00-18:00, closed Tue Oct-March, tel. 04 68 87 27 76,
www.musee-cer-
et.com
). Allow 40 minutes to Céret by car, or ride the bus—ask at Collioure's TI.
Collioure has a fair range of hotels at favorable rates. You have two good choices for your
hotel's location: central, in the old town (closer to train station); or across the bay, with
views of the old town (10-minute walk from the central zone, with easier parking).
In the Old Town
Directions to the following places are given from the big Hôtel Fregate, at the edge of the
old town, a 10-minute walk down from the train station. Price ranges reflect low versus
high season.
$$$ Hôtel Casa Pairal***,
opposite Hôtel Fregate and hiding down a short alley
(behindCaféSola),isMediterranean-elegant. Entertothesoundsofafountaingurglingin
the flowery courtyard. Reclining lounges await in the garden and by the pool. The rooms
are quiet and tastefully designed. “Privilege” rooms, on the first floor, have high ceilings
and small balconies over a courtyard (standard Db-€100-125, “privilege” Db-€141-189,
big Db suite with terrace-€189-289, air-con, Wi-Fi, parking-€14, breakfast-€14, Impasse
des Palmiers, tel. 04 68 82 05 81,
www.hotel-casa-pairal.com
,
contact@hotel-casa-pair-
al.com
, reserve ahead for room and parking).
$$ Hôtel les Templiers**,
in the heart of the old town, has wall-to-wall paintings
squeezed in every available space, a perennially popular café-bar, low-key management,
and good-value rooms. The paintings are payments in kind and thank-yous from artists
whohavestayedhere—findtheblack-and-whitephotointhebarofthehotel'sownerwith
Picasso. The rooms—some of which have views—are either new and modern, or older
and charming. Those in the main building above the bar are best (standard Db-€68-95,
bigger Db-€90-130, pass on the annex rooms unless they're next to main hotel block, air-
con in main building, Wi-Fi, elevator, a block toward beach from Hôtel Fregate along
