Pyrénées-Orientales Region

Perpignan

Further south in the Languedoc region is Perpignan, a lively and historic city. It is the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales area and only 40km from the Spanish border. Founded in the 10th century, Perpignan was the fortified capital of the Spanish kingdom of Roussillon and was in its heyday during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Its architecture shows much Spanish influence with a high proportion of the population of Spanish origin.