Banyuls-sur-Mer is a commune, located in the southeast of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the Occitania region and in the district of Céret (Côte Vermeille, France, Pyrenees).
It’s a popular part of the Vermillion coast of the Mediterranean resorts of France.
Exposed to an altered oceanic climate, it is drained by the Baillaury and other small rivers . The commune has a remarkable natural heritage: three Natura 2000 zones (the “Albères massif,” the “rocky coast of Albères” and the “Albères massif”), four protected areas (Doradilla biotope, the Cerbère national nature reserve, Armen and Cap de l’Abeille) and eight natural areas of ecological, faunal and floral interest.
Banyuls-sur-Mer, the second southernmost seaside resort in mainland France, is popular in all seasons, bringing together, around its bay, the old town, the port, a beach (pebble and sand) and a pier resting on the rocky islet of Illa Grosse, where the war memorial of 1914-1918 is located, the work of the sculptor Aristide Maillol.
Its inhabitants are called the Banyulencs and the Banyulenques. The town gives its name to the Banyuls vineyard.
Banyuls-sur-Mer is neighbored by Cerbère, Port-Vendres, Argelès-sur-Mer and Collioure on its French borders, and by Portbou on the border with Catalonia (Spain). The foothills of Pyrenees, the Monts Albères, run into the Mediterranean Sea in Banyuls-sur-Mer, creating a steep cliff line.
Main attractions
- The war memorial, sculpted by Aristide Maillol
- Museum and tomb of Aristide Maillol
- The ruins of the Querroig castle, located on the border and straddling the territories of Banyuls-sur-Mer, Cerbère and Portbou (Historic monument logo Registered MH (2016))
- Maison Douzans, private house including paintings by Aristide Maillol (Logo historic monument Registered MH (2015))
- Dolmen of Gratallops
- Cova de l’Alarb
- Church of Saint John of the Rectoria. Romanesque style (12th century), Historic monument logo Listed MH (1962)
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette Chapel, inaugurated in 1865
- Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de la Bassa, Romanesque church
- Sainte-Marie des Abeilles Church, Romanesque style
- Sainte-Marie Church in Banyuls-sur-Mer
- Former church of Sainte-Marie de Vallàuria
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Banyuls-sur-Mer.
See here Aristide Maillol sculptures in Banyuls-sur-Mer.
Main beaches
- Elmes Beach, Av Alain Gerbault 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer
- Fontaulé Beach, Av de la République 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer
- Sana Beach, Center Hélio Marin 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer
Restaurants
There is 1 Michelin list restaurant in the city: Le Fanal, 18 avenue Pierre-Fabre, Banyuls-sur-Mer, 66650, France · Modern Cuisine.
How to get to?
From Paris (tolls): 8 hr 47 min (889 km) via A71 and A75
From Bordeaux (tolls): 4 hr 53 min (489 km) via A62 and A61
From Toulouse (tolls): 2 hr 39 min (247 km) via A61
From Carcassonne: 1 hr 50 min (156 km) via A61 and A9
From Monaco (tolls): 5 hr 37 min (538 km) via A8 and A9
From Nice (tolls): 5 hr 20 min (516 km) via A8 and A9
From Cannes (tolls): 5 hr 6 min (490 km) via A8 and A9
From Saint-Tropez (tolls): 5 hr 4 min (462 km) via A9
From Andorra: 3 hr 21 min (207 km) via N116
Main information
Area: 42,43 km2
Population: 4671
Coordinates: 42°28′59″N 3°07′41″E
Language: Catalan, French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
See here best sea and ocean resorts of France and Spain (223 objects)
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
