Wedged between the Etang de Leucate and the Mediterranean Sea, Le Barcares is a seaside resort town in Pyrenees-Orientales. Its strip of land was uninhabited until the 17th century when a small fishing village was established and Le Barcares went on to flourish as a major port and shipyard.
Things to do in Le Barcarès
Stretching between the mouth of the Agly River and Le Barcares Port is a golden expanse of sand where you can swim and sunbathe in the summer months. When it’s time to eat, there are several beachfront restaurants where you can sink your feet into the sand while dining on locally caught seafood and Mediterranean favourites.
Moored permanently in Le Barcares is “Le Lydia”, a historic cruise liner built in Copenhagen in 1930. After sailing the southern waters under the Australian flag, she was decommissioned and silted on the beach here in 1967. Browse the museum exhibits housed within “Le Lydia” and pay your respects at the Memorial des 3 Colonnes, which honours the foreign soldiers who served in the French Army.
On the edge of the Etang de Leucate is the Parc des Dosses, an exceptional natural area that provides habitat for more than 200 bird species, as well as a diversity of native flora. It’s located alongside a popular take-off area for kite surfers, with the flat waters and strong winds providing an ideal training ground for “Big Air” specialists.
Getting around Le Barcarès
Le Barcares is around 20 minutes' drive from the centre of Perpignan and Perpignan–Rivesaltes Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect to Le Barcares and the town is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the surrounding area.