Pyrénées Orientales

The department of the Pyrénées Orientales is at the junction between Spain and the Mediterranean, and until the middle of the 1600s, it was the stronghold of the principality of Catalonia.

The official language is French, but over 40% of the population speaks and understands Catalan, which remains a language that is very much alive. Rich in historical, cultural and artistic heritage, Catalonia preserves very specific culinary traditions such as the Cargolade which is shared around the fire, and is a combination of grilled sausages, Catalonian blood sausages, lamb chops and snails of course, a little bit of aioli and Banyuls! The variety of landscapes is on a par with the variety of AOC classed wines.