Perpignan

Perpignan is the capital of the French Catalonia (Pyrénées-Orientales department), a city with a fierce Catalan identity, a hot Mediterranean climate and a history as the medieval capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. Salvador Dalí famously declared Perpignan's railway station "the centre of the universe," and an installation commemorating that declaration makes it one of the world's most celebrated train stations. The Palace of the Kings of Majorca (Palais des Rois de Majorque), a 13th-century royal palace on a hill above the city, is the most impressive monument — a Gothic complex of throne room, chapels and tower with views over the city and toward the Pyrenees. The Cathedral of Saint-Jean, begun in 1324 and still displaying its Romanesque bell tower, is another significant medieval monument. The Castillet, a 14th-century red-brick fortified gate with a distinctive red-roofed tower, now houses a museum of Catalan arts and traditions. The Place de la République and the café-lined streets of the old town are lively particularly in the warm evenings. The Via Catalana market and the Catalan cultural festivals (particularly the Sardane folk dance events) reflect a genuine and living Catalan culture distinct from both French and Spanish Catalonia. The beaches of Canet-en-Roussillon and Argèles-sur-Mer are 15 minutes away. Collioure, a perfectly beautiful Catalan fishing village painted by Matisse and Derain, is 30 minutes from Perpignan.