929km (577 miles) SW of Paris; 27km (17 miles) SE of Perpignan
You might recognize this port and its sailboats from the Fauve paintings of Lhote and Derain. It's said to resemble St-Tropez before it was spoiled. In the past, it attracted Matisse, Picasso, and Dalí. Collioure is the most authentic and alluring port of Roussillon, a gem with a vivid Spanish/Catalan image and flavor. Some visitors believe it's the most charming village on the Côte Vermeille. The town's sloping, narrow streets, charming semifortified church, antique lighthouse, and eerily introverted culture make it worth an afternoon stopover. This is the ideal small-town antidote to the condo-choked Riviera.
