Base camp Prades
Prades is a good spot to use as base camp for exploring the south east part of the Languedoc/Rousillon area. It is situated halfway Perpignan and Andorra; you can go up north to the Corbières Cathar region or south into the Pyrenees. I rented a gite at the Villa Lafabrègue (see review).
Prades is a laid-back French catalan village on the river Têt. There are actually no particular sights to visit. Well, perhaps the Saint Peter church is worth to honour with a visit. The eglise is on the central square and has a typical bell tower with open paired arches. The churche's main attraction is the altarpiece which takes up the entire wall behind the high altar. To have a proper view on it, you have to activate the spotlights which is gona cost you money!
Just outside Prades, on the road to Vernet-les-Bains, is the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Michel-de-Cuixa, a very interesting complex. The pelgrim route to Santiago de Compostella passes by the abbey. The monastery contains a standard square cloister, a four-tier bell tower and a lovely small garden. The cloister was robbed of many columns, which are now part of the Cloisters in upper Manhattan, NY...
Villa Lafabrègue is situated in a through-street in the west part of the town of Prades, but separated from it by walls and vegetation. The villa offers B&B rooms and gites. The B&B rooms are on the upper floor of the villa and some of them have a small terrace. Downstairs is the kitchen where you can eat together with the family (or not) and a big cosy room offers relaxing seats; there are books and maps (even Kate Mosse's Labyrinth!).
The villa is situated in a green garden with a small pool and a wonderful view on the Pic du Canigou. There's enough space for your car, which doesn't spoil the setting for they're out of sight because of the vegetation.
Hidden behind the villa close against a hospital (didn't hear a sound of it) is an annex with two gites. I rented the smaller one. The living room is basic with an open kitchen and upstairs are two bedrooms, good for 4 people.
All together good value for money and a great place to stay for exploring the region. I think you can spend here several weeks!
