Saint-Cyprien

27-28 February 2007

We made two big jumps heading westward from Bormes-les-Mimosas to the Spanish border with France. Using the autoroutes we made our first big jump to Palavas-les Flots where we had spent Christmas (see earlier post). After a few days of bike riding we we jumped back on the freeway all the way to Leucate where we left the freeway to drive along the departmental routes along the ocean with amazing views of the snow-covered Pyrennes across the windswept lagoon, eventually arriving at Saint-Cyprien. Although there is no official motor home site in the village or on the beaches we were allowed to stay at the port near the Capitainerie (Harbour Master); no services other than garbage disposal, but relatively quiet and very beautiful.
The beaches area, like many along the Med. is tourist-oriented with a broad sea-side promenade, a large port (including an extensive lagoon/canal system bounded by apartments and hotels).

The small city of St.-Cyprien, historically a Catalan agricultural village dating to the 10th century is a few kilometres inland and accessible by bicycle paths. Although not particularly rich in historic or picturesque sites, its church dates to the 18th century.

Of mixed construction and in need in some repair it was locked, according to a local, because of problems of theft.
S.-Cyprien also boasts the François Desnoyer Museum, a repository of seascapes by Toulouse Lautrec, Gaugin, Maillol and others.

Another 3 or 4 kilometres away from the sea is a 10th and 11th century chapel, Saint-Etienne de Villerase. Situated on the road to Alenya this chapel is currently under repair. But Roger’s fit form allowed him to slither through a locked gate to get these pictures of this early chapel.