| Page Views: 116 Last Visit to Collioure: September, 2007 | The Seaside Artist Colony by edwis - last update: Oct 12, 2007 |
About 2 hours drive up the coast from Tossa on the A-7 is the French border and the seaside artist colony of Collioure in the Port-Vendres area. We arrived after a nerve-wrecking drive along the Pyrenees Mountains, where we battled a multitude of trucks and Audis going 90+ miles, but we discovered the challenge well worth it. We parked 2 miles out of town to avoid the congestion and immediately felt at ease – back in a French village. I think we discovered on this trip that we are officially Francophiles because so many of our most treasured times are in little French villages.
Collioure, being so close to Catalunya, has all signs in both languages and both the French and Catalonia flags flying -- but not the Spanish flag. Some big time pride issues going on here….. Matisse made this place famous, and the artist impact remains strong. Artists’ studios line the alleyways, and painters sitting along the shore pursue their art. The place is very upscale compared to Tossa (thanks, Tony). The drive back can take 3 ½ hours if one goes down along the scenic winding coastal highway to avoid the A-7, beautiful, but just as challenging. |
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edwis' Collioure Travel Tips
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