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  " Every time I have some moment on a seashore, or in the mountains,  or sometimes in a quiet forest,
 I think this is why the environment has to be preserved."

                                                                  -   Bill Bradley,  American Athlete and Politician

Are you looking for unique places on your next visit to France?  Do you want to have the best of nature at your fingertips ~ the  Mediterranean, the mountains and the opportunity to take in some wine country visits as well?  Then the Pyrénées-Orientales, bordering the Pyrénées mountain range and Spain, is for you.

Its capital, Perpignan ~ which in the 13th century was the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca ~ displays a strong Catalan influence found in the city's Medieval center.  The département oozes history, offers the cuisine and culture of the Catalans, and is where you will find the Via Domitia ~ the oldest Roman road in Gaul and one of the oldest Roman roads anywhere.  Over 1500 miles in length, it links Rome to Cadiz, Spain, with its final French leg in the Pyrénées-Orientales.  Built in 188 BC by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus [210 BC -162 BC], it was constructed about the same time as Narbonne in the Aude.

Before the Treaty of the Pyrénées in 1659, this département was part of the old Principality of Catalonia under the Crown of Aragon where the people spoke Catalan.  The current département was formed during the French Revolution in February of 1790 and named Roussillon consistent with the pre-Revolutionary province of Roussillon; this naming conflict required the need for a name change which took place about two weeks later, and it become the Pyrénées-Orientales.  Today it is an area of 4115 square kilometers with a population of 422,000.

Let's begin in the Cerdagne . . .

The region of Cerdagne (France) or Cerdanya (Spain) is equally divided between the two countries.  The red portion on this map is in France, and the small orange area within it is Llívia as is the white patch on the map above ~ more about Llívia follows. 

Today its only main towns are Puigcerdà on the Spanish side and Bourg-Madame on the French side.  We crossed into Spain at Bourg-Madame many years ago when passports still had to be shown to the border agents.

When in the Cerdagne, you might want to take a ride on Le Petit Train Jaune ~ the Little Yellow Train,
also known as the Ligne de Cerdagne, whose construction began in 1903.   Its route is 69 kilometers (43 miles) long,
and the train climbs to 5,226 feet to the highest railway station in France.  It crosses two bridges and goes through nineteen tunnels
 in a single track, so there are a few 'passing loops'.  Power generators on the River Tet  keep this electric train in motion. 
You will notice it is not just yellow but has some red coloring as well ~ homage to the Catalan flag.
 Some of the cars are open in the typical good weather, and because local roads were improved over the years,
it has become more of a tourist attraction than necessary transportation for locals.
  You may want to begin your yellow train journey at Villefranche-le-Conflent, the starting point in eastern Pyrénées-Orientales,
 50 kilometers inland from Perpignan and designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.

                                                                       Bill Bradley -  American athlete and politician

        

A Visit to Occitanie & the Pyrénées ~  Part II ~  the Pyrénées-Orientales

Are you looking for unique places on your next visit to France?  Do you want to have the best of nature at your fingertips ~ the Mediterranean, the mountains and the opportunity to take in some wine country visits as well?  Then the fourth département of Occitanie in our series,  the Pyrénées-Orientales ~ bordering the Pyrénées mountain range and Spain ~ is for you. 

Its capital, Perpignan, the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca in the 13th century, displays a strong Catalan influence found in the city's Medieval center.  This département oozes history, offers the cuisine and culture of the Catalans, and is where you will find the Via Domitia ~ the oldest Roman road in Gaul and one of the oldest Roman roads anywhere. Over 70,000 miles in length, it links Rome to Cadiz, Spain, with its final French leg in the Pyrénées-Orientales.  Built in 118 BC by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, it was constructed about the same time as today's Narbonne in the Aude département, known then as Colonia Narbo Martius.

Before the Treaty of the Pyrénées in 1659 this département was part of the old Principality of Catalonia under the Crown of Aragon where the people spoke Catalan.  The current département was formed during the French Revolution in February of 1790 and named Roussillon, consistent with the pre-Revolutionary province of Roussillon; this naming conflict required the need for a name change about two weeks later to Pyrénées-Orientales. Today it is an area of 4115 square kilometers with a population of 422,000.

Let's begin in the Cerdagne . . .

The region of Cerdagne (France) or Cerdanya (Spanish), is equally divided between France and Spain [see map left].  The red portion is in France, and the small orange area within it is Llívia as is the white patch in the map above ~ more about that follows.  Cerdagne is the westernmost area of the Pyrénées-Orientales, and it is believed that early inhabitants spoke a form of old Basque.  Later in its tumultuous history, it was invaded by the Vandals and other Germanic peoples, it was part of the Visigoth kingdom, and eventually was conquered by the Muslims in the early 700s.  It was in 785 that it came under Frankish rule when it was conquered by Charlemagne after the surrender of Girona.  Today its only main towns are Puigcerdà on the Spanish side and Bourg-Madame on the French side.  We crossed into Spain at Bourg-Madame many years ago when passports still had to be shown to the border agents.

 

When in the Cerdagne you might want to take a ride on Le Petit Train Jaune, the Little Yellow Train,
also known as the Ligne de Cerdagne, whose construction began in 1903.  Its route is 69 kilometers
(43 miles) long and the train climbs to 5,226 feet ~ to the highest railway station in France.
 It crosses two bridges and goes through nineteen tunnels on a single track, so there are a few 'passing loops'.
  Power generators on the River Tet keep this electric train in motion.   You will notice it is not just yellow but
  has some red coloring as well ~ homage to the Catalan flag.  Some of the cars are open in good weather, and
   because local roads were improved over the years,  it has become more of a tourist attraction than necessary
 transportation for locals.  You may want to begin your yellow train journey at Villefranche-le-Conflent the starting
 point in the eastern Pyrénées 50 kms inland from Perpignan and designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.

                                                                                                                                                                           continued on page three                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 We will continue to include Arthur Gillette's "Twisted Tongues" in our newsletter
until we exhaust the selection he kindly provided.  We hope you enjoy them as much as he
enjoyed the French language.  We are sure he would want us to continue the game . . .

                                                                                                               SPONSORING THIS ISSUE                                                                                                                      

Domaine des Faures

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