Hidden Treasures from Conflent to Garrotxa

Day one
Your journey begins in Perpignan and takes you to the heart of the Conflent. You visit either the Priory of Marcevol — a natural balcony facing the Canigó — or the Abbey of Serrabone, a Romanesque gem tucked into the garrigue. Come afternoon, you wander through the lanes of Eus, listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France, before reaching Prades, the small cultural capital of the Conflent, at the foot of the massif.

Day two
Off to the Fenouillèdes for a day of high-altitude vineyards and quiet living. In Bélesta, you discover the Prehistory Museum before pressing on with a tasting at one of the region’s wine estates. The afternoon is given over to relaxation — a stroll through the vines, an escape to the Caramany lake, or a spa session — amid a landscape of unspoilt hills and garrigue.

Day three
A day built around the iconic Yellow Train and mountain heritage. You start with a visit to Villefranche-de-Conflent, a fortified town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, before boarding the legendary Yellow Train for a panoramic ride to Mont-Louis. Depending on your mood, the day continues with a hike to the hot springs of Thuès, a climb to Fort Libéria, or a visit to the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa — a masterpiece of Catalan Romanesque art.

Day four
Head for the high Catalan plateaux and the Bouillouses lake, perched at nearly 2,000 metres. A gentle walk around the lake offers a sweeping panorama of the surrounding peaks. Come afternoon, you can take a dip in the natural baths of Saint-Thomas or set off to discover Font-Romeu and its “Museum Without Walls” — an open-air art trail facing the Pyrenees.

Day five
This fifth day takes you back down to the foothills, between characterful villages and artistic heritage. You wander through Castelnou, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, then discover the Caves Byrrh in Thuir — a remarkable piece of Catalan Art Deco heritage. The afternoon belongs to Céret and its Museum of Modern Art, before heading up the Vallespir valley to Prats-de-Mollo, with a well-deserved stop at Arles-sur-Tech for the celebrated rousquilles from the Touron patisserie.

Day six
You cross into Spain and enter the Camprodon valley, deep in the Upper Ripollès. The village of Molló and its Romanesque church mark your arrival in the Catalan Pyrenees. In Camprodon, you discover a mountain town of genuine charm, between its medieval bridge and stone lanes. Come afternoon, a walk along the Via Romana de Sant Pau de Segúries plunges you into a preserved pastoral landscape of meadows and beech forests.

Day seven
For this final stage, you step into the Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park, one of the most remarkable volcanic landscapes in Europe. A gentle walk through the Fageda d’en Jordà beech forest or around the Croscat volcano reveals a startling scenery of craters and lush woodland. The route ends in Besalú, a spectacular medieval town whose fortified bridge spanning the Fluvià ranks among the finest Romanesque ensembles in Catalonia.