About our region
Vernet Les Bains is an attractive mountain spa village with many amenities.
Situated at 650m, at the foot of Mt. Canigou, it is surrounded by the peaks of the Eastern Pyrenees.
The village has 3 outdoor pools just five minutes from Villa des Mines (a deep pool with diving board, a children's pool and a paddling pool for the very young), an indoor pool, Municipal Park & children's play areas.
Other sporting facilities within the village include tennis courts, an equestrian centre & boules.
In addition to the naturally occurring volcanic hot springs and treatments of the Spa Centre there is an aqua gym, sauna, Jacuzzi etc.
Vernet Les Bains has a special status as an arboretum Village, with over 200 species of trees spread around the village.
Three mornings a week there is a bustling market, held in the village centre, where you can buy local produce.
There is a wide range of shops, 3 café-bars & 6 restaurants, with many more in neighbouring villages.
Village festivals are held throughout the year - just a couple of examples: in June, the fete de la St Jean sees torches lit at the summit of the Canigou.
The first Sunday in August sees the Championship of the Canigou. A 30 km race, from Vernet to the summit and back, first held in 1905. To enter, just turn up on the day.
This area, with its warm sunny microclimate, enjoys some of the mildest weather in France, making it ideal for holidays throughout the year.
Lakes and beaches
There is a sizeable fresh water beach with lake swimming at Vinca, some 15-20 minutes drive from Vernet
The glorious sandy beaches of the Mediterranean are less than an hour away by car - St.Cyprien and Argeles and a little further along the coast, the picturesque port towns of Collioure and Banyuls.
Shopping
The village contains a good range of shops: grocery, newsagents, patisseries, vintners, hairdressers, electrical and banks. There are several cafes and restaurants to suite all tastes and pockets. Many of the shops and cafes surround a central area which hosts a lively market three mornings a week.
On the outskirts is an Intermarche supermarket.
Prades, some 9 kms away, has more extensive shopping, a market on Tuesday and a large Super-U supermarket.
For duty-free shopping, Andorra is an easy day excursion.
Skiing
The ski resorts of the Neiges Catalanes, including Pyrenees 2000, Font-Romeu and Les Angles, are about 50 mins away, so a winter week in Vernet Les Bains could easily include some days downhill skiing, cross country skiing or trekking.
The resorts of Pyrenees 2000 & Font-Romeu are covered by one ski pass..........40 slopes, 32 ski lifts, 52 km of pleasure! 16 greens, 9 blues, 9 reds, 6 black.
Walking
With about 250 kms of marked footpaths and stunning scenery, this is one of the best walking areas in Europe.
From the village, a 10 minute walk to Belvedere provides spectacular views, an hour and a half from the village you have the waterfalls, Cascades des Anglais, a 3-hour walk and you can visit the famous monastery St. Martin du Canigou (also reachable by car and 45 minutes walk), and the long trek to the summit of the Canigou (2785 metres/about 9,000 ft).
We have the guide: "Pyrenees Orientales Circuits Pedestres" by Alain Borg which contains details of local walks together with maps (available for your use, in the apartment).
The village shop contains many more excellent guides and maps for the serious mountain walker.
Sightseeing
The picturesque medieval walled settlement of Villefranche de Conflent is just 5 mins drive away.
Within the fortified walls, you will find narrow streets containing a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants. Le Petit Train Jaune (Little Yellow Train), one of Europe's most scenic railways starts it's journey from here. With open carriages in the summer months, you can really appreciate the stunning scenery.
Perched on a hillside above Villefranche is the 17th century Fort Liberia built by Vauban in 1681 and reinforced during the time of Napoleon III.
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