Barcelona has become a much loved holiday destination, greatly improved since the Olympics were based here in 1992. It is also a great day out. Wander down The Ramblers and through the Gothic quarter, marvel at Gaudi's architecture including his unfinished masterpiece La Sagrada Familia, and if you still have time, head for the waterfront and the award winning beaches of Barceloneta. Soon you will be able to reach this wonderful city by the new high speed TGV train link from Paris, which will also stop at Perpignan. In Perpignan, you can visit the Palace of the Majorcan Kings, go shopping and lunch in the beautiful old town built on the river Têt, and start to appreciate the richness of this area's historical past.

At the heart of French Catalonia are the two river valleys of the Têt and the Tech, dominated by Mont Canigou, the mystical mountain. There are two ancient monasteries at its foot, St. Martin-du-Canigou and St. Michel-de-Cuxa, both well worth visiting. Mont Canigou is sacred to all who live in its shadow and is considered a symbol of Catalan unity. For walkers, you can reach its summit, details of which can be found on our
links page.

The coast here is the Côte Vermeille. It offers much variety. Families can enjoy the stretches of gold sandy EEC blue flag beaches at Argelès-sur-Mer with beach attractions and pleasant yacht marina as extra. Play golf at St. Cyprien or spend a day at the Aqualand water park which is here too. Port Vendres is a modern day working fishing port with a selection of bars and restaurants around its perimeter, or, on the other side discover one of our favourite restaurants 'Le Poisson Rouge', a hidden gem teetering at the water's edge. The coast is not complete without a trip to Banyuls where you can hire Dart 14 catamaran dinghies off the beach or taste wine in one of the many houses here, especially the sweet wine that is a speciality of the region.

Inland, the mountains beckon. They provide a paradise for ramblers, cyclists and climbers. Take the Petit Train Jaune for a day out, which reaches as far as some of the ski resorts up high. Visit the Saturday market at Céret, or pamper yourself at the Spa in Amelie-Les-Bains. I have to say, however, that the spas in this neck of the woods are not quite the pampering experience I have witnessed elsewhere! They hark back to the days when people came to the Pyrénées especially to take the waters to restore their health. They are more medicinal in their approach than their British counterparts. I did enjoy floating in a clay bath (minerals good for the skin, and the person I went with's excema had cleared by the time we left), having a massage under soft falling rain and holding on in a pool with water jets coming at you! We were passed through like cattle wearing our floral swimming caps à la the 1950s, swimsuits, dressing gowns and flip flops. It was however excellent fun going with a friend.

We live in London but love to escape here to recover from the madness of the city. You can take time to admire the bird life (I get very excited when I see Hoopoes in the garden!), butterflies, stunning views. There is always a glass of wine or a cold beer to hand should you need one! This is a big wine growing region and it is part of the joy to go direct to the cellar door for tastings and purchases. Laze around the pool and when you are starting to feel restored start contemplating where else to go.

There is plenty here to occupy adults and children alike. Please look at the links on our links page for even more information.