: Ceret

Céret is a town in the Pyrénées-Orientales at the foot of the Canigou massif, famous as the capital of Catalan culture and for its early 20th-century art scene. Picasso, Braque, Matisse, and Chagall all spent time here. The town's Musée d'Art Moderne reflects this rich artistic heritage, and it sits at the heart of the cherry-growing region.

Céret does not have a railway station. The nearest stations are Perpignan (28 km) or Le Boulou. Buses from Perpignan connect regularly. By car, the A9 motorway then the D615.

The old town is compact and walkable. A car is best for exploring the Vallespir region.

The Musée d'Art Moderne with works by Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, and Catalan artists. The Pont du Diable (14th-century single-arch stone bridge). The arcaded square and Sant Pere church.

Hiking in the Canigou massif. The Festival Pablo Casals (classical music). The artist trail with mural reproductions.

Catalan cuisine: grilled meats over vine wood (a la brasa), cargolade, bullinada. Cherry-based desserts.

Collioure and Côtes du Roussillon wines. Cherry beer from Céret. Pastis.

Small hotels in the old town and along approach roads. Chambres d'hôtes in vineyard settings. Camping along the Tech River valley.

Fresh cherries in season. Cherry beer and cherry-based liqueurs. Catalan art prints. The Saturday market.

Collioure and the Côte Vermeille (30 minutes). Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste. Romanesque abbeys of the Vallespir. Perpignan, Figueres.