Prades is an activity heaven all year round. Skiing (December-March) - at 5 or 6 Pyrenean resorts (low cost, great quality) that could be reached in 40 min but you can also enjoy it at Col de Jau, the smallest skiing resort in Europe in 15 km from Prades (2 downhill ski pistes, cross-country ski, snowshoe walking). Swimming – at 5-6 sea resorts (45 km to Canet plage) or at the lake Vinca (10 km) - good also for surfing and sailing. Or you can swim in warm waters at the thermal spas of St. Thomas-les-Bains - against the backdrop of the mountains. Another 2 spas in 6 km. There are 3 golf courses nearby, 15 min to the closest (9 holes), 4 natural reserves within easy reach - ideal for walkers. Animal Park at Les Angles, 2 adventure parks (6 km) will keep your whole family busy for quite a time. Also waiting for you are medieval fortresses and abbeys, Yellow Train, Picasso, Matisse, Dali masterpieces in local museums, music festivals and a lot of wine! And Prades holds weekly market.
How to get there
By air: Our house is only 40 km from the airport of Perpignan . There are also 5 other airports within a 3 -hour drive: Girona, Carcassone, Barcelona, and Toulouse . By railway: You can use Eurostar and TGV to Perpignan . And once you've got here - you can either use the local railway to Prades (the station is in 700 m from the house) or hire a car (there is a garage in the house and also a parking space in front of the gate). In any case that won't take you more than 45 minutes - during the busiest time of the season. By car: we are only 1 km away from N116, linked with the A9 Motorway from Barcelona to central France.
Places to visit
Villefranche de Conflent A beautiful medieval town with complete fortified walls. There are also stalactites caves at a one km distance from the town. And the town itself is the starting point for a ride on Yellow Train, probably the number one attraction in the area. You can ride in open or closed top carriages admiring the breathtaking view. Abbeys at St Martin de Canigou & St Michel de Cuxa are superb examples of Romanesque architecture in beautiful locations. The 1.3 km long path to St Michel de Cuxa starts almost from the gate of the house. By the way, St Michel de Cuxa it that very place where the heroine finally kills Dracula in the best-seller by Elizabeth Kostova 'The Historian'. Tautavel Museum , believed to be the site of the oldest human in Europe . Spectacular panoramic views can be enjoyed in Les Lacs des Bouillouses where you can get by chair lift.The Perfume Tower in Mosset, the organ shaped mountains near Ille-sur-Tet can be reached in 15 minutes, the Solar Oven in 40 min
Other activities
Diving at Argeles, Banyuls, Port Vendres, Bacares, St Cyprien and Collioure. Golf in Marcevol (10 km, 9 holes) and at Font Romeu - 9 hole golf course at a beautiful mountain setting. St Cyprien-Plage on the coast has a 27 hole golf course. Spas and thermal baths in Vernet-les-Bains (Rheumatology) and Molitg-les-Bains (Respiratory pathologies and Skin diseases). Outstanding natural sulphurous hot springs in wonderful outdoor mountain setting in St Thomas les Bains. Fishing - trout, salmon, carps and pikes. There are 2 lakes in and around Prades. And a lot more -at some distance. Walking - all ability walking is available in abundance from your doorstep! Also within easy reach are the four nature reserves of Py, Mantet, Nyer and Jujois, as is the Carlit Massif, a very popular region for walking the GR10 coast to coast path and Pyrenean route across the massif. In addition, several summits are accessible to walks as well as challenging rock climbs.