castle
Château de Quéribus
The last Cathar stronghold, a lone keep perched on a rocky pinnacle with views to the Pyrenees and sea.
27 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeFranceOccitanie
Perpignan
Occitanie, France · Europe
About Perpignan
Perpignan is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Cabestany, 27km from Château de Quéribus.
Perpignan is in Occitanie, France, with about 110,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Cabestany, about 4 km away.
Perpignan (UK: , US: , French: [pɛʁpiɲɑ̃] ; Catalan: Perpinyà [pəɾpiˈɲa]; Occitan: Perpinhan [peɾpiˈɲa]) is the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in Southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea and the scrublands of theRead more
Corbières massif. It is the centre of the Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole metropolitan area.
In 2021, Perpignan had a population of 119,656 in the commune proper, and the agglomeration had a total population of 205,183, making it the last major French city before the Spanish border. Perpignan is sometimes seen as the "entrance" to the Iberian Peninsula.
Perpignan was the capital of the former province and County of Roussillon (Rosselló in Catalan) and continental capital of the Kingdom of Majorca in the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as one of the most important cities of the Principality of Catalonia. It has preserved an extensive old centre with its bodegas in the historic centre, coloured houses in a series of picturesque streets and alleys stretching between the banks of the Têt and its tributary, the Basse.
The city is also known for its International Festival of Photojournalism, the medieval Trobades festival and its centuries-old garnet industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Perpignan?
Within an hour or so of Perpignan: Château de Quéribus (27 km), Cathar Castles (34 km), Château de Peyrepertuse (34 km), Abbaye de Fontfroide (48 km).
Are there any good drives near Perpignan?
The nearest famous roads are Costa Brava, Port d'Envalira and Coll d'Ordino.
Where is Perpignan?
Perpignan is in Occitanie, France, about 4 km from Cabestany.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 110,706
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Occitanie
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 42.6976, 2.8954
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Perpignan
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Cathar Castles
Ruined medieval fortress sanctuaries perched on impossible rocky peaks across the Languedoc, including Peyrepertuse and Queribus.
34 km · about 40 min drive
castle
Château de Peyrepertuse
A vast ruined Cathar castle stretching along a knife-edge ridge high above the Corbières vineyards.
34 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Abbaye de Fontfroide
A beautifully preserved Cistercian abbey of rose-gold stone tucked in a quiet wooded valley near Narbonne.
48 km · about 55 min drive
museum
Dalí Theatre-Museum
A surreal red castle topped with giant eggs in Figueres, the artist's own museum and final resting place.
48 km · about 55 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Cap de Creus
The easternmost point of mainland Spain, a wind-battered cape of twisted rock and lonely lighthouse that inspired Dalí.
54 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Cadaques
A whitewashed fishing village on the Cap de Creus peninsula that captivated Salvador Dali and remains hauntingly beautiful.
55 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Besalu
A remarkably intact medieval Catalan town entered via a magnificent fortified Romanesque bridge over the River Fluvia.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Perpignan
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 54 kmCap de CreusThe easternmost point of mainland Spain, a wind-battered cape of twisted rock and lonely lighthouse that inspired Dalí.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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