Ceret

[seb47]

Anyone living near Ceret & able to give some local info?

[Iceni]

Suggest that you use Google to search for Ceret. 135,000 hits should tell you something.

John

[seb47]

Thanks Di.

Probably if I did a google on the place we live, I'd get an equal or greater hit.

Which is why I was asking for personal views - I've done some research but would welcome private or public messages from anyone living in that area.

Cheers and no offence,

[Nell]

you will get a lot of information about Ceret  on www.anglophone-direct.com

It's a website local to the pyrenees  orientales department in which Ceret is situated

[P-D de Rouffignac]

Since there seems to be veil of secrecy hanging over Ceret, here's a personal view! Ceret is the Harrogate or Cheltenham of P-O, ie. trying hard to be something it's not. Many people think that because of it's connections with modern art (Picasso etc) Ceret must be interesting. Apart from the very small museum, the market and its local cherries, it is a dreary town, crowded though shady in summer, but cold and deserted in winter. It has some of the ugliest suburbs in the region and it is too far from anywhere else to justify living there. My experience in the property business confirms that many people buy a property rhere, having visited the place in summer, then sell up in a couple of years, screaming with boredom. Much the same applies to the equally overrated Collioure, though at least you can gaze at the Mediterranean from your over-priced apartment.

I hope this helps.

Peter-Danton de Rouffignac

www.francemediterraneanproperty.com

[Ian]

Like much of small town rural France Ceret is no Las Vegas or Shanghai, P-D is quite right... and that is why many people love it. 

Fairly close to the Med' at the foot of the mountains and within striking distance of a couple of airports too, I can understand why Ceret has a pull for foreign buyers looking for a spot of sunny tranquility.  It's kind of Provence-lite... except Perpignon the nearest city is in my opinion particularly disapointing.

If you are looking for razzmatazz you won't find it in Ceret (or Collioure).  Argeles and St Cyprien just up the coast have pretensions above their station - desperatly trying to shrug off their tatty (& tacky) image of a few years ago (though they are good for family beach hols) - in comparison Collioure and Ceret look positively charming.

[seb47]

Thanks everyone for your views.

We're not looking for razmataz, but are absolutely fed up with the climate here in Lot et Garonne. We realize it's a universal problem, but it just seems to me that when we drive down to Spain and approach 'that corner', the weather seems to cheer up a little. We want to continue living in the countryside, but maybe with easier access to higher temps sometimes (even if that means driving down to Murcia occasionally).

Any more ideas?

 

[P-D de Rouffignac]

Just to widen your options and your desire to seek the Spanish sun, here are some general points about Pyrénées-Orientales, south of Perpignan.

The region is bounded by hills on three sides and the Mediterranean - a bit like Los Angeles without the smog - which gives us a sunny micro-climate often at variance with even the regional weather forecast. The most sought-after inland villages are in the Albères (foothills of the Pyrenees) to the south, but if you want a view over the Roussillon Plain this means facing north towards Perpignan. North of Perpignan are the Corbièeres where property is a bit cheaper but comparatively remote, though with easy access to Perpignan for shopping etc. The West is dominated by Mont Canigou, and the scenery is more rugged and the temperatures slightly lower than in the plain.

The Mediterranean coast is of course primarily holiday resorts with extensive beaches (Canet, St Cyprien, Argelès) plus yacht marinas and some quite upmarket areas. South of Argelès to the Spanish border (Collioure to Cerbère) the coast is rugged but with interesting inlets and hidden bays.

Regarding escaping to Spain and the sun, the Costa Brava and Barcelona are just 2 hours drive and the new TGV will connect Perpignan to Barcelona in under 1 hour. The region has a lot going for it, generally relaxed and tolerant locals who are used to visitors/new arrivals, but you need to pick your spot with care. I am very happy here, having found it by accident seven years ago!

P-D de Rouffignac

 

 

[seb47]

Thanks PD - I've not given up on the search in that area yet! (If you wanted to send a private message about towns generally kept secret from us Brits, please feel free!)

 Best wishes,