Ceret

Day by day, whatever your desires, céret offers you the chance to relax and enjoy the gentle way of life.

Discovery of the old town  Fontaine des 9 jets : From the same period as the Pont du diable, this intriguing fountain with nine streams of water is mentioned as early as 1313.  The "Porte de France" was the principal entrance through the town's ancient fortifications.  L'église Saint Pierre : A small roman church dedicated to Saint Pierre is mentioned as early as the year 814, the year Céret was founded.  Porte d'Espagne ou Portail des Maures ( 13ème siècle ): Under the reign of Majorca, the town was developed and protected by the construction of surrounding ramparts.  Le couvent des Capucins : This monastery was built in 1584, and in 1595 the Capucin monastic order moved in.  Le Pont du diable( 1321-1341 ): Named "Devil's Bridge", this impressive medieval construction straddles the river Tech with a single majestic arch 45 metres wide.

The museum of modern art  Here you will find the artistic memory of painters passing through Céret: Picasso, Pierre Brune, Auguste Herbin, Manolo, Soutine, Chagall...  On visiting this magnificent collection, you will marvel at the creations of these great 20th century artists.  The museum experience has been designed in a way not only to allow you to discover contemporary art, but also to stimulate your senses as you make your journey into the history of art.

Fontfrède  At half an hour's drive or two hour's walk from Céret, the site of Fontfrède is like a memory from the past that lives on, intact, into the present. Trees, fresh water, high ground and an open view over the whole Roussillon plain as far as the sea, all make for a privileged site where it is good to breathe the mountain air when the heat of summer arrives.  Pathways run across the crest, opening up an entirely different countryside to hikers, and the "Pic des Salines" offers an impressive panorama of Spain.

Le casteillas  This castle once belonged to the Lord of Céret, and is today a private property. The right wall is the only vestige of the medieval period (9th-10th centuries). In 1916, the painter Pierre Brune built his home and artist's studio on this site. He founded the local Museum of Modern Art in 1950.

St férreol  A hermitage rises from the middle of this secluded, charming site….Memories of the past seem to envelope the little chapel… Though the existing chapel is not actually very old, it is easy to imagine a hermitage of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, with its austere roman forms and narrow windows only letting through a half-light that is just right for prayer and meditation. The chapel is 4 km from the bridge of Céret. You can see the countryside stretch out and finish far off towards the Mediterranean, you can see the plain with the finely shaded green of the vines appearing in harmony with the red leaves of the oak trees.. you can admire the pretty town of Céret… the foliage of high plants encircling it with green, … the great, majestic Canigou under its crown of snow and broom flowers…

On the steps of picasso  The painter Picasso came to Céret for the first time at the beginning of Summer, 1911. When he discovered Céret, he was at the height of his explorations into cubism. Very quickly, he was joined by his friend Georges Braque. Both at Céret, they worked in complete symbiosis and together worked on this new way of conceiving painting. In their footsteps followed Jean Gris, Auguste Herbin and Max Jacob... Together, at Céret, they revolutionized the art of the century... Once recognized as a site of modern creation, Céret continued to seduce those who visited the area for inspiration. After the first world war, many more visitors came to be inspired by this countryside, the people: Soutine, Chagall... Come and discover the places that were painted and frequented by these great masters of the 20th century. You will be able to compare reality with the artists' interpretations.

The market  This is, without doubt, the most attractive market of the region. Reflecting the general character of Céret, it epitomizes warmth, friendliness and joie de vivre. In addition to the "Féria", festivals, culture and traditions, the market confirms the image that Céret carries throughout the region and across the world.