Exploring Perpignan | A Hidden Gem in the South of France

Discover Perpignan, a gorgeous city in Southwestern France. Today, we'll be walking around the historic center of this hidden gem and learning about its history.
Hi, I'm Camden, an American living abroad in the South of France. I make videos about travel, teaching, and my life in France. Please subscribe to my channel for more videos like this!
Filmed in June 2020
Follow the blog: baguettesandbicyclettes.com/​
Instagram: / baguettes.and.bicyclettes
First time visiting Perpignan? Check out my city guide: baguettesandbicyclettes.com/20...
History of Perpignan: www.britannica.com/place/Perp...
All about the Saint-Jaques Neighborhood: www.theguardian.com/cities/20...
Political Tension in Perpignan: www.thelocal.fr/20200629/mari...
Explore the Pyrénées-Orientales: www.tourism-mediterraneanpyre...
Music:
Spanish Rose - Chris Haugen
Mysteries - Dan Lebowitz
Casablanca Caravan - Chris Haugen
Et Voila - Chris Haugen

[@daedalys2923]

Hello j'habite à Perpignan et je dois dire que cette vidéo mets bien en valeur la ville. 😊

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

Merci ! Perpignan me manque beaucoup :)

[@nicolasmartinez7741]

Very nice video about my home town which I miss so much!

[@142dewin]

Love to go there!

[@SomewhereInIndiana1816]

Really beautiful scenery!! Amazing views. Really enjoyed your video ☺️

[@mattkay9771]

I first visited from England about ten years ago to see my team play the Catalan Dragons. Totally fell in love with the place and have been back many times.

[@jennifersparks5890]

Thanks Camden, very helpful

such a beautiful gem:) can't wait to explore more in the south this summer^^

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

Thank you! I can't wait to explore more too after lockdown!

[@genevanave9701]

I love it

[@aw8585]

I stayed in Rousillon for a month when I was 23 and fell in love with Perpignan. I'm 46 this year, so it was half a lifetime ago. I watched this to see what's changed. It's still beautiful.

[@aw8585]

@Fermati Chebellosei um thanks 🤔

[@pvi2023]

Etes-vous montez au sommet du Canigou voir les superbes levés de sa majesté soleil sur les fonts bleus de madame Méditerranée ? de très belles images qui laisse imaginer une certaine douceur de vivre .

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

Je ne suis pas encore montée au Canigou, mais je rêve de le faire un jour !

[@titteryenot4524]

I like Perpignan the way I like my least-likeable, wayward, troublesome child. I first visited back in 2013, and, having been all over southern France and its ‘preserved in tourist aspic’ sights, was pleasantly surprised by the place, albeit yes, with a slightly rough-around-the-edges authentic ‘take no prisoners’ feel to the city. However, not once (in about a dozen visits since) have I felt my personal safety even remotely in danger whilst there. (This includes several strolls around the so-called ‘notorious’ St Jacques area; alas, there have been mutterings for years, locally, about razing this entire area - really a small village within the city - and starting again, but I feel this would be an egregious error, both from a human point of view, and from an aesthetic point of view, as in my opinion, the old cluster of St Jacques houses and intermittent churches and small squares, is actually a potential jewel in the city’s crown. Perhaps they may have to gentrify it a bit to pull in the casual visitors, but to erase it from the cityscape?, well, I shudder at the thought, and pray they don’t.) But … and here’s what those not in the know may not be aware of: 1. Perpignan has a small, but lively and lovely central core: sure, the cultural barbarians bulldozed the old town walls to, you’ve guessed it, put up parking lots and roads, but they had mercy on the actual buildings within the walls, such that you can stroll around the town’s heart for a morning and be pleasantly surprised. 2. It’s sunny, almost always. I was once there in the depths of January one year and the thermometer shot up to 23/24/25 degrees on a blissful run of 3 days. Sure, doesn’t bode well for climate change enthusiasts (of which I am one), but hey, gotta take your pleasures where you can find them! 3. It’s close to beach and mountain. One of its delights is that splendid thing whereby you can take a photo in Perpignan with palm trees in foreground and Canigou dusted with snow, like icing on a birthday cake, in the distance. That sub-tropical/Alpine (strictly, in this case, Pyrenean) juxtaposition always fascinates me. 4. The people are, on the whole, warm and welcoming. 5. Spain is right on the doorstep; and to take you there a run of delicious wee Cote Vermeille villages, climaxing in the cute-as-a-button Collioure (due respect to dinky, but frankly slightly underwhelming Cerbere). If you take the more direct route and the fast train from Perpignan, you can be in Dali’s birthplace in 20 minutes, or 20 minutes further down the line again and the quite glorious Old Town ensemble of Girona (where the city fathers - and mothers! - wisely opted to leave the city walls, such that they provide one of the most wonderful urban-based walks in all Spain), and just another 40 minutes after that, perhaps Spain’s most world-renowned city. (Due respect to the non-Catalans amongst us.) So there you have it. Perpignan is worth the hike. I did it on a Ouigo (Paris-Perpignan return) a couple of years back for less than the price of a round of drinks. Or thereabouts.

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

Thank you for this comment!

[@123benny4]

So, thank you for explaining why it's one of the cheapest places to live in France. Perpignan has a Spanish feel to it. Worth a visit.

[@anndemaret9746]

@Fermati Chebellosei I thought it was great and super helpful.

[@anndemaret9746]

Thank you for taking the time to write, it was really informative and helpful.

[@titteryenot4524]

@@anndemaret9746 👍

[@DavesGuitarPlanet]

Passing through here on train now. Wow, fantastic sound track! The vast majority use terrible “music.”

[@maximerodriguez1676]

😍😍😍

[@seanbuckley7485]

Nice video. good music. beautiful views. Too bad that beautiful Perpignan is under a far right mayor. I will look elsewhere to move.

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

Thanks! I was shocked when he was elected.

[@leprovincial66]

It's called democracy whether you like it or not

[@ingefranz2013]

I didnt know that Perpignan belongs to Catalunya. Thanks

[@mariesling4165]

No Hedge Funds Allowed.

[@sandra66]

I don't see why you have to drag politics into this video! I grew up in Perpignan and I'm pretty sure there are tons of other things to talk about!

[@BaguettesandBicyclettes]

I just wanted to include some basic information about the city in the video. I only briefly mentioned here; and it’s not the main focus of the video. I also mention some history and some points of interest in town 😊