Things to see and do The area around Mas San Julian offers endless opportunities for exploration all year round. Our visitors derive a great deal of pleasure from the diverse scenery between the coast and the Pyrenees and the wealth of sight-seeing and activities on our doorstep. Sight-seeing There are many places close to Mas San Julian that offer the opportunity for a few hours sight-seeing and a wide variety of places a little further away which guarantee a great day out. Close to Mas San Julian Thuir itself houses the largest oak vat in the world at Les Caves Byrrh and an interesting tour of the facilities where Pernod and Dubonnet are made. Castelnou is a wonderful example of a fortified village sleeping peacefully behind its ramparts and enclosing a secret maze of artisans’ workshops and restaurants serving fantastic local produce. Into the mountains The Pyrenees, constantly in view and a short drive away, will take you to many beautiful and interesting destinations including Prades, the birthplace of Cellist Pablo Casals and Villefranche-de-Conflent. Villefranche-de-Conflent is a fortified town dating back to the 11th and 15th centuries and a good place to catch ‘Le train Jaune’ if you prefer not to drive on the mountain roads. The road to Corneilla leads to the Grandes Canalettes, the largest grotto in Europe - known familiarly as the ‘underground Versailles of the Pyrenees’ due to its ivory stalagmites. Saint-Martin-du-Canigou offers an incredible sight and the location of an architectural revolution whilst further along the mountain route are Font Romeu and Pyrenees 2000, two popular winter sport resorts, equally popular in the summer with wonderful fresh air and stunning scenery. Further into the mountains you will reach Andorra via Bourg Madame and then onwards for the most fabulous views. A different route through the mountains takes you towards the market town of Ceret which is famous for its cherry orchards. Ceret is always a fascinating town to visit and soak up the atmosphere of ‘French life’ and its Saturday morning market is a fabulous eclectic mix of local produce, crafts, clothing and artisan products. Past Ceret is the beautiful spa town of Amelie les Bains and Arles sur Tech, the religious centre of the Vallespir with its stone coffin oozing mysterious and miraculous powers. Still further into the mountains are the Gorges de la Fou with their narrow steep sided passages - less than 10ft wide – and Prats-de-Mollo, a picturesque town on the Spanish border. To the coast A trip out to the coast will take you through the beautiful old town of Elne with its cathedral and stunning views. The beaches of the Cote Vermeille offer mile upon mile of wide, sandy beaches stretching from Argeles, St Cyprien (home of Aqualand) and onto Canet Plage. Those who prefer smaller coves can travel a little further along the coast towards the beautiful fishing town of Collioure, Port Vendres, Banyuls and over the border into Spain. In the opposite direction, along the coastal route is Port Bacares (centre Nautique), Sigean Safari Park, the stunning historic town of Beziers, Narbonne and Montpellier. Castles and history The landscape around Thuir and towards Carcassone is rich in medieval history and there are a variety of ruined castles, museums and sites relating to the quest for the Holy Grail and the crusades, as well as some important archaeological finds, including the oldest man in Europe. Whatever your hobby or interest, this region will captivate you and lure you back time and again to continue a journey of discovery and experience the wonderful, unspoilt atmosphere of rural France.