Pyrenees-Orientales

Holiday Cottages France - Pyrenees-Orientales Self Catering Holiday Homes

Search Rent-in-France for Holiday Cottages throughout France. Choose self catering rental houses, gites, villas and apartments in the Pyrenees-Orientales, France for a holiday that can be as exciting or relaxing as you like. There is a fantastic choice of French accommodation with the majority of the properties available during the summer and winter seasons and a selection of self catering and luxury rentals. This beautiful department of France forms a part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and is the most southern department of the region that borders Spain.  A self catering holiday home in Pyrenees-Orientales, during the summer months, will offer you a fantastic base to explore the wonderful beaches and take part in a large number of watersports including sailing, windsurfing, swimming and even kite surfing. The coast between the towns of Montpellier and Perpignan has become one of the most modern holiday destinations in Europe, and with around 70km of sandy beaches this area is extremely popular with tourists each year. Once the hype of the summer has calmed down and the holiday makers have returned home, the Pyrenees-Orientales transforms for the winter season with hundreds of snowsport enthusiasts hitting the area. Catering for all levels of ability for snowboarding and skiing there are approximately 10 ski-resorts in the Pyrenees-Orientales department which include Saint Pierre dels Forcats (Cambre d’Aze/ Eyne), Fomigueres and Les Angles. Consisting of three magnificent valleys in the Pyrenees mountain range from the north to the south, the Agly, Tet and Tech offer fantastic routes to explore some of the area’s beautiful scenery. The Pyrenees-Orientales is split into two areas, the coastal area which is based to the north and south of Perpignan and the inland area which is situated between the coast and Mount Canigou and the Pyrenees. Thsi includes the Alberes, the inland mountainous region which runs along the frontier between France and Spain. The coastal area, known to many as the Cote Vermeille is in some areas, over developed, but don’t be put off as there are still some very pretty unspoilt towns to discover, together with a number of sandy beaches to enjoy whilst renting a  Pyrenees-Orientales holiday villa. Canet, Port-Vendres, Argeles-sur-Mer, le Barcares, Cerbere, Saint- Cyprien, Banyuls-sur-Mer and Collioure are some of the towns worth exploring during your stay along the Cote Vermeille.

Places to Visit in the Pyrenees-Orientales 

Cerdagne - This wonderful area in its high region boasts an impressive climate where the area sees an average of 2800 hours of sunshine each year. Skiing is available in the high mountains but during your time in Cerdagne there are a number of other activities available to keep you busy which include horseriding, rambling, mountainbiking, fishing, canyoning, kayaking and canoeing. 

Collioure – This picturesque twon is set in an authentic environment located along a rocky coast line in the south of this spectacular region of France. There are a number of small coves and sandy beaches to enjoy. Famous throughout France, Collioure is known for its 3 day celebration in August - the towns population will double during this time as tourists and visitors hit the area to see the fireworks and bodegas. 

Perpignan – The capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales and also the heart of the south. This magnificent town has a lovely Spanish ambience about it and really comes to life in the evening during the summer months.  Place Castillet is home to the dance sardana throughout the year which is very popular with the locals. 

Conflent – Situated just a short distance from Perpignan, Conflent is a quiet and charming medieval collection of villages in the mountains that will be sure to impress you with their different styles and architectures. Be sure to pay a visit to the monuments of Campo Santo, Palais des Rois de Majorque, Castillet and the impressive main train station which was designed by the famous artist Salvador Dali. Conflent really does show you how the village and the surrounding areas have been influenced by France and by Spain over the years.

Alberes – Located between the mountains and the sea, this is a natural frontier between France and Spain offering up some of the best scenery in the area. 

This lovely area of France is lucky to have a Mediterranean climate and usually sees less than 90 days of rain per year; the rain that does fall usually happens in the autumn months. The fantastic long summers in the area make renting accommodation in Pyrenees-Orientales a real treat! Temperatures can sometimes rise to an impressive 40°C with the spring temperatures being warm and pleasant. In contrast to the wonderful summer months the winter can see the temperature drop rapidly, occasionally below -10°C in the higher parts. 

Getting to the Pyrenees-Orientales is relatively easy with flights arriving daily into the following airports that are all in, or close to, the area including Montpellier Airport, Beziers airport, Carcassonne Airport, Girona Airport, Perpignan Airport and Toulouse Airport. Many operators offer a range of deals and cheap flights to these airports from the UK.