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At the northern edge of the old city lays the CASTILLET,
This gate served to keep the enemy out of
the city and to subdue them. . The building was used as prison. Imagine now that
in 1945 a boy’s skeleton was found in a room entirely closed by lay bricks.
Historians imagine it must have happened at the end of the 18th
century, since there was a piece of dish with the skeleton. Some think it are
the rests of the disappeared crown pretending Louis XVII, who became a victim of
the French revolution. And (despite his serial number) never reigned. Up above
in the towers you have a fine view over town and in the direction of the CANIGOU.
The CASA PEIRAL in Le Castillet houses a museum dedicated to Catalan art and
folklore. The square near the Castillet is packed with small terraces; in the
summer they dance the Sardana, Tuesday and Thursday.
Right next to Castillet there are a few beautiful, old buildings like the PALAIS
DE LA DEPUTATION. Here lived the delegates of the Catalan federation and also
the corporation of textile dyers. The MAISON JULIA has a 14th century
inner courtyard. 
If you want to eat a hamburger in a tasty way, you can do that in the LOGE DE
MER. A French fast-food chain has transformed this medieval exchange (1397). Up
in the chimney, once there was a court of justice, judging the quarrels and
differences between the different merchants. A weather-vane in the form of a
ship remembers us that shipping was one of the main activities in Perpignan.
On the square in front of the Loge stands a statue of Maillol: Venus. The same
in the inner courtyard of the HOTEL DE VILLE (14th -17th
century), next to the Loge. Street and square are packed with cafes and terraces
in the summer.
The CATHEDRALE SAINT JEAN, built in South French gothic style, is a quite
obscure church. It’s king Sancho who ordered the building in 1324 and it was
inaugurated in 1509. Dedicated to the saint of the city, John the Baptist. His
statue is on the main altar. It is worth looking at it and the other altars (16th
and 17th century) mainly on the left side of the church. Also left is
a Roman passage to the church SAINT JEAN LE VIEUX. Its part of the cathedral now
bit is the oldest of the parish churches in Perpignan. In the chapel right of
the cathedral a 14th century Rhine wooden Christ hangs on the wall.
And next to the church a cloister corridor, once used as cemetery---a
combination much used and more than you could imagine. In any case it is the
only place in France where it happened.
Most of the touristy highlights lay right next to each other in the old city.
While loitering you will encounter a lot of medieval churches and houses. The
MAISON DE LA MAIN DE FER is a merchant’s house, built in 1508-1515. The iron
hands (mains de fer) are on city hall, criminals could buy their way out by
letting such a hand hang on the hotel de ville. Another beautiful building is
the PALAIS DES CORTS. And next to it in the rue des Theatres are other fine
houses. The 14th century EGLISE SAINTE MARIE DE LA REAL was the court
church of the kings of Mallorca.
More remote is the PALAIS DES ROIS DE MALLORCA, in the south of the inner city.
Built in the 14th century and almost entirely in Catalan-Gothic
style. The dungeon of the palace is divided in two chapels one above each other.
In the under chapel lays a 15th century Madonna statue, in the upper
an altar with a figure of Christ in Catalan style. The partly Roma, inner yard
is used in summer for theatre and music performances.
The CHURCH SAINT JACQUES dates 14th century. In the portal hangs a 16th
century passion cross with the utensils of Jesus’ suffering. At the west side of
the church is the chapel CONFRERIE DE LA SANCH, a brotherhood existing since
1416. In our time it is famous for the procession which takes
place on Good Friday. The members of the brotherhood, “les penitents” walk
anonymously in long coats and terrifying pointed hats through the city. They
used to be the last comfort for people who were sentenced to death.
Around the church is a real Mediterranean area, with a lot of animation in the
streets, ram shackled houses and the laundry hanging at the windows. Good for
picture hunters.
Perpignan has a few museums like MUSEE RIGAUD, with ancient and modern paintings
like Maillol and Picasso and the MUSEE PUIG (mints). Finally you have also the
MUSEE D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE. |
