Visit Argelès-sur-Mer, its marina and beaches

As this is a circular route, you can start from any of the landmarks mentioned on the itinerary.
Simply follow the points of interest marked on the map and the description provided.
For convenience, the starting point is behind the Casino, located on Plage des Pins, along the seafront promenade. Car parks on both sides.

(S/E) From behind the Casino, head south towards the marina. Follow the promenade along the seafront, which is shared by pedestrians and cyclists.

(1) Just before the harbour breakwater, turn right to cross the footbridge over La Massane. Immediately afterwards, turn left onto Avenue du Môle, so that you walk along the quays (Marco Polo, Christophe Colomb, Cartier, Vasco de Gama) to complete the full tour of the marina. At the end of the quay, near the harbour master's office, turn left to go around the residence (guide on the right) while continuing along the other quays. Go up the stairs on the right to reach the residence's visitor car park.

(2) Cross this car park and the D81 (carefully, using the pedestrian crossing) to follow a sandy path opposite, which leads to the road connecting the port and the four-lane road. Walk along this road on the left, using the path next to it. You will arrive at the roundabout on the old Chemin de Collioure, in front of the holiday village.

(3) Continue left on the cycle path, which is also a footpath, which runs alongside this site to reach the roundabout on the Route de Collioure. Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead on the D 2E towards the dual carriageway.

(4) Once you have crossed this expressway via the bridge, keep left on Route de Valmy. Head towards the castle on the left-hand pavement. At the intersection with the road leading to the castle grounds and car park, continue straight ahead and descend towards a ford. Continue along this road until you reach the campsite on your left, then turn right onto Chemin de la Massane. Follow this tarmac road, which leads back to the dual carriageway. Walk along the left-hand side of the road.

(5) At the next crossroads, turn right to pass under the dual carriageway. Still on Chemin de la Massane, enter the outskirts of Argelès-Village. Pass to the left of the cemetery and at the end, turn right to pass under the railway line.

(6) Follow Rue du Repos to reach a small square and turn left onto Rue d'Alembert. Cross a side street. Just before reaching the back of the post office, turn right and climb the stairs to reach the main road. Cross it carefully at the pedestrian crossing.

(7) Climb the stairs again through the gap in the fortifications. At the street, turn right and then left onto Rue de l'Égalité. Visit the town centre by strolling through the narrow streets. Turn right onto Rue de la République until you reach the church, then retrace your steps and turn right onto Rue Vermeille. Turn left twice to take Rue de la Fraternité. At the end, turn right onto Rue de la République. Leave it at the next crossroads, turning right to reach the square of the same name.

(8) Walk around it to return to Rue de la République. Follow it to the right until the intersection with Rue Blanqui and Rue des Remparts. Turn right onto Rue des Remparts. At the end, turn left onto Rue du 14 Juillet. Cross the ford or take the La Massane overpass to reach the next roundabout.

(9) Follow the marked path on the right that runs alongside the Ribera de les Conques and then the vegetable gardens. When you reach the school and tennis courts, go around them on the left via Allée Jules Ferry until you reach Avenue Molière.

(10) Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing and turn left onto this avenue, keeping to the right-hand pavement. At the next large roundabout, turn right onto Avenue de la Retirada de 1939**, keeping to the cycle/pedestrian path. Continue along this path.

(11) At a crossroads, it crosses the Agulla Cabdal* stream, turns right and becomes Route du Tamariguer. Staying safely on the cycle/pedestrian path, join Avenue du Tech (the road linking Argelès-plages and Saint-Cyprien). Head towards the roundabout.

(12) Cross it carefully on the left.
Follow Boulevard de la Méditerranée towards the beaches and, at the end, turn left onto Boulevard de la Mer, heading towards the municipal campsite. Just after the last building on the right, cross the car park on the right to go around it.

(13) Take a sandy path that allows you to stroll in the shade of the pine trees, along the beach, heading south. Continue straight ahead, between the beach and the residences, until you reach the seafront promenade and the Casino (S/E) further on.

Remember to bring water and a hat in hot weather. You can quench your thirst at the marina.
Tourist Office - Casa de l'Albera in Argelès-Village.
Tourist Office - Avenue du Tech - opposite the Municipal Police Station in Argelès-Plages.

• Agulla Cabdal. Agulla in Catalan or agouille in French means "small river".

Visit the marina - quays - pontoons - shops - harbour master's office.

Visit the old village - the ramparts, Notre-Dame Del Prat Church, its narrow streets.
Argelès comes from the Latin Argilla (clay) - a place where clay abounds. Former royal city.
The ramparts date from the 13th century. They are well preserved in places and sometimes disappear into the houses. They played an essential role in defending the town following numerous invasion attempts (Roussillon, Majorca, Aragon).
Argelès was annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1659.
The Church of Notre-Dame Del Prat dates from the 14th century (reconstruction). It is in the southern Gothic style. Inside are nine masterpieces of Roussillon Renaissance painting. Its bell tower rises to a height of 34 metres. 360° view from the top.

Stroll under the pine trees and along the seafront promenade.
** In 1939, there was a concentration camp in the municipal campsite area, built at the end of the Spanish Civil War to house tens of thousands of Republicans, opponents of Franco, who had crossed the border and were imprisoned there by the French authorities (north beach). It became a gathering place for foreigners during the Second World War and a youth work camp from 1941 onwards.
Experiments with pine plantations began in 1861, covering two hectares (approximately 8,000). Today, there are 2,000 hundred-year-old pine trees in the Bois de Pins area.
Between the beach centre and the port, there are unique, early 20th-century villas.