Côte Vermeille
Argelès → Cerbère along the red coast · 45 km
- Distance
- 45 km
The coast where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. Drive the coast road south via Collioure, Port-Vendres and Banyuls to Cerbère, and take the Route des Crêtes over the vine terraces and the Tour Madeloc back. Make time for a swim at Paulilles and snorkelling at Peyrefite. Avoid driving into Collioure in the middle of the day in summer.
Stops along the way
- Argelès-sur-Mer & Le RacouWhere the sand ends and the rocks begin
- CollioureThe jewel of the Côte Vermeille
- Fort Saint-ElmeA star fort above Collioure
- Port-VendresA fishing port with real everyday life
- Anse de PaulillesA swimming cove by the old dynamite factory
- Banyuls-sur-MerSweet wines and an underwater trail
- The snorkelling trail at PeyrefiteFrance's first marine nature reserve
- CerbèreThe last village before Spain
- Tour Madeloc & Route des CrêtesA watchtower with views over the whole coast
Road trips
- The reverse queen stage330 km · Pau → Saint-Girons over five cols
- The inland road Biarritz → Perpignan520 km · The E80 along the mountains, then through Ariège and Cathar country
- The Cathar loop230 km · Foix → Carcassonne via the castles
- Hot springs of the Cerdagne120 km · Ax → Dorres → Llo → Saint-Thomas
- Béziers and the Canal du Midi40 km · A day along the canal
- The waterfall loop190 km · Cauterets → Gavarnie → Troumouse → Luchon
- The Ariège cols150 km · Foix → Péguère → Col de Port → Lers → Agnes → Aulus
- TdF 2026, stage 4180 km · Carcassonne → Foix, 7 July 2026