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Collioure

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Overview

Collioure (French pronunciation: [kɔljuʁ] ; Catalan: Cotlliure, IPA: [kuˈʎːiwɾə]; Occitan: Colliure) is a commune in the southern French department of Pyrénées-Orientales.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia938 words

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A painter’s shoreline

Beyond the crowds that linger at the harbour, Collioure’s light still beckons to the few who chase colour as the Fauves once did. Early mornings, when the sun brushes the granite cliffs with a rose‑tinged hue, are the perfect time to wander the narrow lanes that criss‑cross the old town. Sketchbooks, not cameras, dominate the small cafés that line the waterfront; locals will nod approvingly at any attempt to capture the way the sea folds into the harbour. If you time it right, you may even hear a solitary violinist practising on the steps of the castle, a nod to the town’s lingering artistic temperament.

Gastronomic shortcuts

While the beachfront restaurants cater to tourists, the true flavours of Collioure survive in its modest bistros tucked behind the market square. Ask for the “cervelle de canard” – a slow‑cooked duck breast served with a drizzle of local red wine reduction. Pair it with a glass of Banyuls, the fortified wine produced on the surrounding slopes; its nutty sweetness cuts through the richness of the meat. For a quicker bite, head to the tiny stall near the old custom house where locals buy anchovy‑topped focaccia, a snack that has fed fishermen for generations.

Seasonal rhythms for the discerning traveller

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Collière’s calendar is defined more by the tide than by the tourist season. In late spring, the town’s vineyards awaken, and the hillsides are awash with the first burst of grape clusters, offering a quieter backdrop for vineyard walks that avoid the July‑August throng. Autumn brings a subtle shift: the sea mellows, and the harbour’s pebble‑streets echo with the soft chatter of locals celebrating the first harvest festivals. Visiting during these shoulder periods grants access to intimate village fêtes, where traditional Catalan dances are performed in the town square, providing a deeper sense of place beyond the typical summer postcard.

Introduction

Commune in Occitania, FranceCollioure Cotlliure (Catalan)CommuneThe Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Collioure Coat of armsLocation of CollioureCollioureShow map of FranceCollioureShow map of OccitanieCoordinates: 42°31′36″N 3°04′53″E / 42.5267°N 3.0814°E / 42.5267; 3.0814CountryFranceRegionOccitaniaDepartmentPyrénées-OrientalesArrondissementCéretCantonLa Côte VermeilleGovernment • Mayor (2020–2026) Guy LlobetArea113.02 km2 (5.03 sq mi)Population (2023)2,756 • Density211.7/km2 (548.2/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal code66053 /66190Elevation0–655 m (0–2,149 ft) (avg. 10 m or 33 ft)1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. Collioure (French pronunciation: [kɔljuʁ] ⓘ; Catalan: Cotlliure, IPA: [kuˈʎːiwɾə]; Occitan: Colliure) is a commune in the southern French department of Pyrénées-Orientales.

History

[edit] There is a record of the castle at "Castrum Caucoliberi" having been mentioned as early as 673, indicating that the settlement here was of strategic and commercial importance during the Visigoth ascendancy. Collioure used to be divided into two villages separated by the river Douy, the old town to the south named Port d'Avall (in French known as Le Faubourg) and the upstream port, Port d'Amunt (in French known as Le Mouré).[citation needed] Collioure was taken in 1642 by the French troops of Maréchal de la Meilleraye. A decade later, the town was officially surrendered to France by the 1659 Treaty of Pyrenees. Because of its highly strategic importance, the town's fortifications, the Château Royal de Collioure and the Fort Saint-Elme stronghold, were improved by the military engineer Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV. Nevertheless, Collioure was besieged and occupied by the Spanish troops in 1793, marking the last Spanish attempt to take the city. The city was retaken a year later by general Jacques François Dugommier. In 1823, the territory of Port-Vendres became a commune, taking parts from the communes of Collioure and Banyuls-sur-Mer. On 21 January 1870, an exceptional climatic phenomenon occurred in Collioure, as observed by Charles Naudin at the time; more than one metre (39 inches) of snow fell in one day on the town. Many orchards as well as cork oak woodlands were damaged.

Government and politics

[edit] Mayors[edit] Mayor Term start Term end Michel Noë 1864 1870 Jean Cortade 1870 1874 Jean Caloni 1874 1878 Jean Coste 1878 1903 Joseph Rossines 1903 1919 Marceau Banyuls 1948 1953 Vincent Atxer 1953 1956 Henri Billard 1956 1956 René Ramona 1956 1966 Joseph Py 1966 1977 Jean Pascot 1977 1989 Michel Moly 1989 2014 Jacques Manya 2014 Twin city[edit] Soria, Castile and León, Spain.

Economy

[edit] Collioure is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) situated around the town, (Collioure AOC), producing red, rosé and a few white wines. The ancient terraced vines in the hills behind the town also provide grapes for the apéritif and dessert wines of the (Banyuls) appellation, which shares its boundaries with the Collioure appellation. Collioure is also famous for its anchovies, and its once-thriving fisheries are referenced in Mark Kurlansky's book Salt.

Culture

[edit] As the town has a strong Catalan culture, its own motto has been adopted by one of the local Catalan rugby teams (USA Perpignan, France): Sempre endavant, mai morirem (Always forward, We'll never die). Under Michel Moly [fr]'s leadership, the town has an alternative motto, Collioure sera toujours Collioure (Collioure shall always be Collioure) quoting French singer Maurice Chevalier's famous song titled Paris sera toujours Paris. The annual Saint Vincent festival is held around August 15, attracting twice the town's population in visitors for several days of celebration with music and fireworks. In the early 20th century Collioure became a center of artistic activity, with several Fauve artists making it their meeting place. André Derain, Georges Braque, Othon Friesz, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, James Dickson Innes, Léopold Survage and Tsuguharu Fujita have all been inspired by Collioure's royal castle, medieval streets, its lighthouse converted into the church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges and its typical Mediterranean bay. Collioure's cemetery contains the tomb of Spanish poet Antonio Machado, who fled here to escape advancing Francoist troops at the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939. The British novelist Patrick O'Brian lived in the town from 1949 until his death in 2000, and his novel The Catalans describes Collioure life as it was in the past. He also wrote a biography of Picasso, who was an acquaintance. O'Brian and his wife Mary are also buried in the town cemetery. The start of Rose Macaulay’s 1950 novel, The World My Wilderness, is set in Collioure. Part of the action in Stephen Clarke's fourth comic novel featuring Paul West, Dial M for Merde, takes place in Collioure. Ninety-eight reproductions of Matisse’s and Derain’s works are displayed exactly where these two masters of Fauvism painted the originals in the early 20th century. Map of Collioure (18th century) Collioure's church, Notre-Dame-des-Anges Château Royal de Collioure Fort Carré Tour de l' Étoile Collioure, seen from the south-east

Notable people

[edit] Machado's grave. Nur Ali Sheikh (1928–), Kenyan-born neo-cubist painter who lived in the house depicted by Matisse in his View of Collioure Marie Barrère-Affre (1885–1963) writer, lived and died in Collioure. René Llense (1913–2014), football player born in Collioure. Antonio Machado (1875–1939), Spanish poet died in Collioure. Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864 – 1933), Scottish artist and designer, lived in Collioure in 1924 and stayed in the area until 1927. Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928), Scottish architect, artist and designer, and husband of Margaret also lived there. Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000), English novelist and translator, lived and was buried in Collioure. Jacques Parizeau (1930–2015), former premier of Quebec Canada, owned a vineyard in Collioure.