Secrets of Catalan Art & Vineyards

First day
This first day takes you from Perpignan to Collioure. You kick off with a visit to the Palace of the Kings of Majorca — a striking plunge into medieval Catalonia — before discovering the elegant Art Nouveau style of the Hôtel Pams and the craftsmanship of the Saint-Vicens ceramic workshops. Come afternoon, Collioure welcomes you with its Royal Castle and the colourful lanes that once inspired Matisse and Derain. The day rounds off with a guided tasting of AOP wines at the Cellier des Dominicains and a stroll through the Clos de Paulilles, between terraced vines and Mediterranean coves.

Second day
You head for Banyuls-sur-Mer along the spectacular corniche road, then press on into Catalonia. You follow in the footsteps of sculptor Maillol before sampling Banyuls’ natural sweet wines during a tasting in the heart of the vineyards. Come afternoon, crossing the border at Portbou marks your entrance into Catalonia, between sea and Pyrenean foothills. You reach the Castell de Peralada, where medieval heritage, historic cellars and Michelin-starred dining come together in an exceptional setting.

Third day
A day given over to art, between Cadaqués and Figueres. You first discover the whitewashed village of Cadaqués and Salvador Dalí’s house in Portlligat — an intimate retreat that lays bare the master’s creative world, gazing out over the Mediterranean. Come afternoon, the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres plunges you into a total, spectacular work of art — an unmissable landmark of world Surrealism. The old town of Figueres gives you time to wander, before rounding off the day with wines from the DO Empordà and hearty terroir cooking, blending seafood and hinterland flavours.

Fourth day
Back in France for an immersion in the Vallespir, between Céret and Prats-de-Mollo. You visit the Céret Museum of Modern Art, home to works by Picasso, Chagall and Miró, before making for Arles-sur-Tech and its Romanesque abbey. The road continues to Prats-de-Mollo, a fortified town nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees, where you discover Fort Lagarde and the village’s medieval lanes. The landscape grows more mountainous, hinting at the heights of the Canigó massif ahead.

Fifth day
A day of rest at the roof of the Catalan Pyrenees. Far from the madding crowd, you soak up the exceptional surroundings of the Upper Vallespir, with panoramic views of the Canigó and Costabona massifs. A moment of calm and well-being amid the Catalan peaks.

Sixth day
This day takes you through some of the loveliest villages in the Pyrenean foothills. You wander the lanes of Castelnou, listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France, before heading to Thuir to visit the Caves Byrrh — a remarkable piece of Catalan Art Deco heritage. The afternoon is yours to unwind at one of the region’s wine estates or thermal spas, marrying wellness with terroir cuisine.

Seventh day
For this final stage, the Priory of Serrabone or the fortified town of Villefranche-de-Conflent await — two jewels of Roussillon Romanesque art. Come afternoon, you board the famous Yellow Train for a panoramic crossing of the high Catalan plateaux, from Vauban fortresses to cross-border summits. Arriving in Bolvir, in the Spanish Cerdagne, brings the week to a splendid close, bathed in high-altitude light and mountain stillness, with a renowned valley cuisine (trinxat, tiró with turnips, xicoies salads) and a surprisingly fine high-altitude viticulture, to discover through cellar visits, tastings and wine-tourism experiences amid the vineyards.