Bed and breakfast accommodation in Perpignan Monasteries

According to Salvador Dali, Perpignan was the center of the world, more especially the pivotal point for him was the railway station. The sunny city rich in its cultural identity and with an amazing heritage brings people together. 

With a strong Catalan influence in its medieval core, the Castillet, which is one of the most ancient defensive walls built in 1368 served as a city gate to keep out invaders. It became later a prison until the 18th century, to then be labeled as a national historic monument. 

The highlight of Perpignan would most probably be the Mallorcan king’s palace with its imposing fortified entrance and its lovely red bricks. The Palace was built in the 13th century for the court of Jacques II of Majorca. It is a mix of military and civil architecture.

Make sure to explore the narrow streets around the cathedral in the Arab quarter, for a different taste of Perpignan. Square Cassanyes is a market square with a north African flavour, with smells of herbs and spices. 

The city has a great art gallery, the Museum of Beautiful Arts Hyacinthe Rigaud, whose collection includes works of Maillol, Picasso, Miro and Dufy. This is an 18th century mansion, another interesting building to check out. 

Access by train 

The famous railway station of Perpignan is located in the town center. The average journey time by train between London and Perpignan is 11 hours and 14 minutes, with around 11 trains per day. 

Access by plane 

There's one airport in Perpignan : Perpignan (PGF). Aer Lingus, Air France, Volotea and Ryanair all fly direct to Perpignan.

How to get around ?

The main way to get around in Perpignan (due to its relatively small size) is by foot, but there are buses run by Compagnie Transports that go right through the city centre, and then further out, even going as far as Cabestany and Canet.

Events 

Every Holy Friday, the city celebrates its procession of the Sanch, an annual Catholic ceremony of Catalan culture. Originally a means of conveying the condemned to their execution, the traditional hooded robes are still worn by the participants who walk in the same eerie silence as they used to do before.

Every year around the 23rd of April, the festival of Saint Jordi, the patron Saint of Catalonia is celebrated. Square Gambetta will be turned into a real open air bookshop, where the books are honoured.

Situated close to the border of Catalonia and only half an hour from the Mediterranean. The city was once the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca during the Middle Ages and belonged to Spain. 

The city is popular for pilgrims to stop by while doing the Saint James way, the beautiful medieval center houses a few historic religious places. Such as the Catalan gothic Cathedral of Perpignan, Saint John the Baptist from the 14th century. Distinguished by its wide nave, topped with a wrought-iron bell tower. 

Next to the cathedral, the unusual cloister-cemetery of Campo Santo from the 14th century, it is the only one in France. It has a large open center and is often used for concerts during the summer.

And last but not least, the former home of the bishop of the Diocese of Perpignan, the Ancien-Eveche from the 18th century which now functions as the museum dedicated of the « Procession de la Sanch », an annual ceremony held in Perpignan every year. The museum contains information and artifacts relating to the Procession and including some antique costumes.