While we have had a very busy time recently in and around Fenouillet, I wanted to explore a place we’ve not been to before. And, after studying the €1 Bus timetable, we selected Banyuls-sur-Mer. It is on the same bus route as Collioure, but about 20 minutes further on.

As we drove past Collioure, we could not believe how quiet it was for a Saturday morning, and then as we passed through Port Vendres, we noticed it was a hive of activity with a market and loads of people walking along the coastline.

But, our destination was Banyuls-sur-Mer.

 

We could have “swung a cat” here and not hit anyone. (Now this is a saying I grew up with, and of course I would never swing a cat, but there was hardly a person in sight.)

We wondered what on earth we could do for three hours.

Banyuls is also a (quite famous) fortified dessert wine (similar to a port but lower in alcohol) made from old grape vines from this area of France. Alcohol is added to the grape juice during fermentation and the wine is later stored in oak barrels or in glass bottles, out in the sun, for a minimum of 10 months. We have seen bottles filled with wine lying out in the sun at some wineries we have visited and wondered why they were there – now we know – the sun heats the wine which results in an oxidation process. Voila!

So Banyuls-sur-Mer, is famous for its wine and for its pretty coastline, and apparently, the best time to visit is now – when there are no tourists. Well we proved that was not actually true, as most things were closed because there were no tourists.

This coastal port was famous for being well placed to smuggle goods into and out of Spain, but I don’t think that is still going on.

I’d been watching the weather forecast and was hopeful that the prediction of a high of 14ºC for Banyuls-sur-Mer would come true, as we’d had our first snow only a few days ago and it had been quite cold.

It was indeed very warm in Banyuls-sur-Mer, well over the predicted temperature, closer to 20ºC. It was hard to believe. Sadly, this warm temperature resulted in me losing my favourite scarf. I took it off on the bus and left it on the seat.

One of goals for our visit was to taste and to buy some of the local Banyuls wine, but ever cave (wine shop) was closed. So, we decided to wait for the next bus and return to Port Vendres where it looked much busier, and while waiting Mick ordered a glass of Banyuls to try (on the right).

As we are pretty close to Spain, the drinks came with a free tapas.

Once the next bus came, we were on it like a flash heading for Port Vendres.

We arrived at lunch time, therefore all the shops and markets were closed, except for the bars and restaurants.

What to do?

We selected this bar for some lunch and waited until the bus came to return us to Perpignan and then to Caudiès-de-Fenouilledes.

We did have a lovely warm day though and can imagine how these places would be in the summer months….

….. crazy!!