Midi-Pyrenees - Real France
We stayed in a characterful town called Prades which was approximately an hours’ drive to the seaside or up into the Pyrenees in the opposite direction. Prades has market days which are a delight; beware of the smelly cheeses! We enjoyed a day out at the picturesque seaside town of Collioure where there are some great seafood restaurants along the harbour front.
Travelling in August we arrived in the height of the peach season with fields and fields of beautifully ripe and juicy peaches and apricots for sale by the side of the road. Yummy!
Carcassone, the medieval settlement, is also worth a day trip. The children loved the birds of prey and jousting re-enactment.
For me the highlight of the holiday was the day we spent at the natural thermal outdoor spa baths ('bains'). There are quite a few of them in the area and the locations are stunning; often perched high in the mountains overlooking some amazing scenery.
TIP – It’s not far to drive into Andorra, if you fancy visiting another country on your holidays.