Collioure: An Art Lover’s Getaway
Collioure, France is part of the Pyrenees-Orientales department along the southernmost coast of the country. The town has two mottos: “Collioure shall always be Collioure” and “Always forward; we’ll never die”. Collioure had a long history of military activity in the 1600s and in the early 1900s, became a center for famous painters like Picasso, Matisse, and Braque. The nearest airport to the town is the Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport in Perpignan, 30 minutes away.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Collioure, France to experience pleasant temperatures and little rainfall is between May to October. Trips in September and January are the least likely to encounter heavy tourist crowds. Visitors in August should attend the annual Saint Vincent Festival to meet other travelers and enjoy local festivities.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Artists and art enthusiasts will want to book a tour of the Le Chemin de Fauvisme. This tour will take you around locations in Collioure that feature in the works of the famous Fauvist painter himself, Henri Matisse. Tourists call the Maison Galy a gem in the heart of the city. In this humble space, customers can have their fill of local wines and culinary delicacies to go with them, like cheese and ham. One of the highest rated Collioure hotels is the Hotel La Casa Pairal. This hotel is elegant and classy while allowing guests to enjoy Collioure’s natural beauty. Its rooms are decadently furnished and it has a large outdoor pool and fountain. The Hotel Le Mas des Citronniers is more modernized, yet is just as relaxing and welcoming.