Introduction
The Apartment is located in St Cyprien Sud - the most southerly part of St
Cyprien, which is itself the most southerly of the Mediterranean resorts
built some 30 years ago. Somehow they have managed to make the whole area
mosquito free - a handy advantage in the summer months. The beach is
very clean and has been awarded the blue flag sign of cleanliness and is
less than 100 metres from the apartment. It is gently sloping and quite
safe, but also has lifeguards on duty in the season when the sailing
school is in operation. Please note there is a nudist beach slightly
further down the beach towards Spain! Barbecues are allowed on the beach
but not on the balcony or in the grounds.
It is worth noting that this is
still very much a French resort, although it attracts many nationalities.
Whilst many menus will have English translations, you won't find anywhere
offering English tea or fish and chips!
Shops
The Easter holidays signal the opening of many of the local stores and
in the summer season (June - September) everything is in full swing. There
is a very small supermarket attached to the apartment block next door but
one to ours (turn right out of our block and right again - Les Fregates).
This stays open until about 8pm during July and August and sells useful
things such as rotisserie chicken, fresh bread and produce.
The best local
shopping is at a small shopping centre called 'Village Capellans', around
10 - 15 minutes walk away (or 2 minutes in the car), open from Easter to
the end of September containing a poissonnerie serving fresh fish daily,
two excellent charcuteries/boucheries, a boulangerie, a pizza take away,
several other shops and a restaurant. Nearby there is a very good wine,
vegetable and fruit warehouse where you can obtain very drinkable wine
very cheaply.
There are plenty of shops open all year in nearby villages and towns,
including two supermarkets which are 10 minutes drive away in Elne and Las
Tour bas Elne. Nearby St Cyprien village has some good small food shops as
well as a pharmacy and post office. Perpignan is a very interesting city,
with excellent shops both in the middle of the city and outside where
larger hypermarkets can be found.
Sports Facilities
From mid June to the end of August a watersports centre organises
sailing and windsurfing from the beach outside the complex. It also has a
bar/restaurant, which serves good, reasonable food.
There is an attractive
public sports centre 3 minutes drive away, where squash, tennis and
swimming are available.
A popular water park - Aqualand is 5 - 8 minutes
walk away and go karting a 5 minute drive.
Other sports include horse
riding, golf, mini golf and cycling. Opportunities for walking, climbing
and skiing are vast as we are very close to the Pyrenees.
Restaurants/Bars/Entertainment
If you walk about 20 minutes up the beach (north) or drive 5 minutes in
the car you will reach St Cyprien Port. As well as a large boating marina
there are a large amount of excellent restaurants, bars and shops open for
much of the year. Many restaurants offer a set menu choice and are very
competitive. In the summer plenty of entertainment is on offer including a
fair ground/market and circus in the port.
Just inland is the village of
St Cyprien, which offers two or three restaurants/bars. In the season
there is live music in the port, as well as traditional dancing and music
taking place all around the local towns and villages.
Places to visit
There are some wonderful places to visit within a half an hour's drive.
Collioure, the picturesque coastal town.
Port Vendres, a well established
old working port.
Argeles Sur Mer, with its wide beach and esplanade.
Argeles Port/Village, with a good selection of shops and markets.
Ceret,
an historic haunt of many impressionist painters.
Corbieres,
Fitou,
Rivesaltes and
Banyuls for those in search of vineyards.
Only 30 minutes
away lies Spain and further inland the Pyrenees and Andorra with skiing
areas, gorges and fortified towns.
Slightly to the north and further away
lie the historical cities of
Carcassonne,
Nimes, Aries,
etc.
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