Céret is a beautiful small town (population 8,000) on a forested hillside in the foothills of the Pyrenées 32km (20 miles) southwest of Perpignan (map).

Huge old poplars shade many town-center streets creating a lovely atmosphere that attracted many 20th-century artists, most famous of whom was Pablo Picasso.

In fact, as you wander around Céret's shady streets you'll encounter plaques bearing reproductions of famous paintings created there by artists, their easels propped up right where the plaque now stands.

Céret's beauty, its tranquil atmosphere, shaded cafés and good restaurants, draw visitors from France and beyond, but because there's no beach or sea views, it's never crowded in the manner of seaside resorts.

What to See & Do

Sights include the Musée d'art moderne de Céret which exhibits works by Picasso and several of the other artists who famously came to Céret to paint: Chagall, Herbin, Matisse, some of the Fauves and Impressionists, and indeed works by hundreds of artists, many of them local and contemporary. More...

Musée d'art moderne de Céret

The town's Église Saint-Pierre de Céret (Church of Saint Peter), a few minutes' strtoll southwest of the Musée, was established in 841, but rebuilt in the 11th century and several times thereafter until the 18th century.

The Pont du Diable, 1.5km (1 mile) northwest of the town center, is an ancient single-arch stone bridge spanning the River Tech, built between 1321 and 1341. It resembles the famous Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) in Herzegovina, but at 45.45 meters (150 feet) in length, the Pont du Diable is much longer than the Mostar (30 meters/98 feet).

Pont du Diable

The Château d'Aubiry, 6.5km (4 miles) northeast of the town center, is an Art Nouveau mansion built from 1893 to 1904, designed by Danish architect Viggo Dorph-Petersen.

Where to Stay

Céret is a small town, so it's best to have your lodgings reserved before you arrive.

If you want to be right in the center, consider the Hôtel des Arcades:

Hôtel des Arcades, Céret.

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Transport

Bus

liO Bus Lines 530 and 550 (Service public des transports de la Région Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée) operate between Perpignan (Gare Routière, next to the Gare de Perpignan train station) and Céret (several stops), taking 45 to 51 minutes for the journey.

Car

Driving from Perpignan southwest along the A9 autoroute, you reach Céret in about 32 minutes (32km/20 miles).

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