Adorned with such an enigmatic name, the latter invites you to contemplate while strolling along the quays of its port. The latter, symbol of its glory and its development since Antiquity, is synonymous with life, inspiration, war, conquest... The obelisk dedicated to Louis XVI, which brings young and old together on market days, and other fortifications, are the undeniable testimony.
Here, the fish land...
A pleasure and commercial port, Port-Vendres is also known for the sailors who bring their loot to the quays every day. Still quivering, turbot, sole, monkfish, red mullet and scorpion fish land, under the fascinated eyes of the public… and to the cries of the seagulls!
Discover this port atmosphere where life flows to the rhythm of the sun and the lapping of the waves on the quays.
Did you know?
Port-Vendres is France's leading banana port, with 6000 tonnes landed every week!
For discovering the port with the family, our team has prepared “The Little Moss Game” for children aged 5 to 12. It is available in the “Carnet de jeux en Pyrénées Méditerranée”, on sale for €2 in our Tourist Offices.
Art Nouveau in the heart of the village
During a walk around the port, discover the works and the heritage of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this Scottish architect, designer and watercolourist who was part of the Arts & Crafts movement. Several of his watercolors depict the village where he lived the last years of his life.
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Center in Roussillon
From August 5, 2022, the association of the same name welcomes you to the new Place Castellane premises to present 35 reproductions of his watercolors, as well as interactive terminals... a real little museum in honor of the artist!
Explore the most beautiful scenery of the Côte Vermeille
wild creeks, the Hamlet of Cosprons with its chapel, and the protected beach of Anse de Paulilles complete the sublime landscapes that surround Port-Vendres.
The decor is magnificent, with dazzling colors… on one side, small beaches separated by rocky slopes and on the other, terraced vineyards that literally drop into the Big Blue. Here, the Côte Vermeille lives up to its name!
The famous Coastal path embrace it all… just put on your hiking boots to soak up the stark contrasts between land and sea.
Cap Béar, the must!
It is in the heart of the Côte Vermeille, between Port-Vendres et Paulilles, that its point juts out into the Mediterranean. There, stands the lighthouse, defying the winds and the tides and proudly overlooking the schist coasts of the Pyrenees, which the Big Blue has come to sculpt.
Offering one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the territory, and an atmosphere that immerses you both in the world of lighthouse keepers, but also in the heart of military strategy with its last vestiges of the Second World War, the Cap Bear and its terraces with well-aligned vines, its changing colors, as well as its fauna and flora to be preserved, are just waiting for you!
Paulilles reveals its treasures…
Nestled between the Cap Bear and Cape of Ullastrell, the cove of Paulilles, this protected natural site between the sea and terraced vineyards, once housed the old dynamite plant established by Alfred Nobel in 1870. This 32 ha green setting has become a haven of peace and nature. Today, it promotes the history and industrial memory of the places, the discovery of the natural heritage and that of the Catalan maritime heritage through the boat restoration workshop.
Focus on the Coastal Path
At all seasons of the year, discover the most beautiful hiking trails offered by the Côte Vermeille. The diversity of nature in this corner of the Mediterranean is simply sublime!
At the pace of the walk, you will discover fortifications, hillsides and little frequented coves.
The best activities in Port-Vendres, on the land side…
And on the sea side...
Book a restaurant in Port-Vendres
Book accommodation in Port Vendres
