The memorial commemorates the more than 80,000 Spanish republicans interned in what was the first large concentration camp created in France for exiles from the war and the repression of Franco's army The Government of Spain has unveiled in France the plaque declaring the Argelès-sur-Mer concentration camp a Place of Democratic Memory It also unveiled another inscription at the tomb of the poet Antonio Machado in Colliure The Democratic Memory Act establishes as a Place of Democratic Memory any space site or intangible or intangible cultural heritage in which events have taken place that are of singular importance due to their historical or symbolic significance or their repercussion on collective memory the struggle of Spanish citizens for their rights and freedoms as well as the repression and violence against the population as a consequence of the resistance to the coup d'état of July 1936 exile and the struggle for the recovery and expansion of democratic values Accompanied by the mayor of Argelés-sur-Mer the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory laid a wreath at the memorial commemorating the suffering of the Spanish Republicans interned at this site which was the first large concentration camp created in France to house exiles who had fled the war and the repression of Franco's army Fernando Martínez recalled that "between 1939 and 1940 were interned in this camp on the beach of Argelès-sur-Mer in very difficult and complicated circumstances They were Spaniards who fought against fascism in Spain and who Martínez attended the unveiling of the Place of Democratic Memory plaque next to the tomb of the poet Antonio Machado just a few days after being forced to go into exile with his mother and one of his brothers The Secretary of State pointed out that "in everyone's memory there was Federico García Lorca and his terrible end or the imprisonment of Miguel Hernández but exile was also a great wound for Spanish society and meant an irreparable loss of talent had to leave their homeland in order to save their lives This website uses its own and third-party cookies to maintain the session, offer a better user experience and obtain statistical data on user navigation. For more information see Cookies policy Tucked into the last bit of flat land before the hills and creeks which mark the Spanish border Argeles-sur-Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales) is famous as the town in Europe with the most campsites At the last count there were 48 of them in the small commune situated just behind a 7km beach of fine sand avoiding the modern fashion of barrack-like huts and mobile homes and instead having places to pitch a tent or park a caravan “What distinguishes us from many other sites is the great diversity of camping options – we still have two-star campsites with 90% of pitches left for tents and a few caravans as well as five-star ones with mobile homes and huge water features in the centre,” said Nathalie Brunie but mainly from the families who all moved into the hôtellerie de plein air Read more: How to explore France in a campervan or motorhome  but they continue to see the real value of having diversity when locals became aware of the sheer number of people having holidays in tents on the beach The visitors were called baigneurs (swimmers) and not campers back then It marked a stark change from late 1938 and early 1939 to build a concentration camp on the beach to handle the flow of refugees from Spain after the civil war who were meant to be solely men of fighting age had to build their own camp buildings and put up barbed wire Running water was only made available three months after the camp opened the camp eventually held around 100,000 men who lived there in hard conditions before being moved on to other camps or mixing into French society in the chaos after the outbreak of World War Two A commemorative stone was erected in the town of Argeles which was officially visited by a member of the Spanish government for the first time in 2023 finally recognising the role played by its exiles of the civil war “It is only recently that this episode of history a bit like the development of the D-Day beaches in Normandy so people can reflect on how a place of misery can become a place of joy.” Local legend has it that the first campsite in the town was established when a fruit grower noticed more and more people camping in the shade of his apricot trees and started charging them for basic sanitation services Read more: French campsite offers flood victims free holiday he realised he had earned more money from the campers than from his trees of the families who founded campsites were farmers,” said Ms Brunie “The area was further boosted in the early 1960s by Charles de Gaulle’s determination to turn the Mediterranean into a holiday playground But it escaped the huge concrete blocks of holiday flats found in other places such as La Grande Motte (Hérault) because pine trees had been planted for the campsites and no one wanted to see these destroyed.” She said the town of Argeles-sur-Mer has 10,000 residents in winter “There is no doubt that the campsites are the economic engine even if the mayor grumbles that they do not bring in as much as other tourist sites,” she laughed “I am preparing a report on the economic boost they indirectly bring to the local area and it is in the hundreds of thousands of euros markets for everything from vegetables to fresh meat have developed France’s campsites had a mixed summer this year inflation and the Olympic Games dragging down tourist numbers in July before numbers recovered in the south in August Puzzling for some was the sharp drop in reservations after the announcement of early general elections “There was an immediate effect on the number of reservations from French people I cannot give a rational explanation,” said the president of the Fédération nationale de l'hôtellerie de plein air bookings across France were down 9% on last year and by the time August ended they were down 4% Most of the August bookings were in the south as tourists sought a better chance of sun after the months of rain Traditional hotel bookings were also down in July Numbers were particularly low in Paris during the Olympics but hotels made up for low numbers with higher prices Japanese pastry chef Mori Yoshida creates refined cakes and desserts Former probation officier and mum-of-three Leila Bodross now sells premium properties on the Bretagne coast A saying to describe being in the prime of life But you speak it really well!” My chest swells with childish pride I’m hoping to forget Brexit for a few weeks a sun-saturated town on the French Mediterranean coast just north of Spain in a place full of them: Argeles is the capital of French camping with more than 50 sites crammed in around its golden It’s a good place to forget the real world This is how I spent two weeks every summer as a child and we’re hoping our three children — ages 5 French campsites are where Northern Europeans come to celebrate the Gallic way of life by eating baguettes drinking wine (Orangina for the kids) and lounging in ill-advised swimwear To ensure all goes as smoothly as possible Mobile homes might have an image problem in the United States fridge — make them perfect for a young family tree-lined grid of dusty tracks on arrival have been braver: Plenty of people are camping or have turned up in motor homes of varying shapes and sizes the best thing about our mobile home is the view of the Pyrenees green and gently curvaceous as they descend into the Mediterranean as the sky glows red and the crickets chirp starlings in a flock rise as one from a row of tall trees at the back of the campsite and swoop in formation toward the sea When you’ve spent the day corralling two small boys on and off planes that sort of experience cannot be underestimated I head off to the supermarket to stock up on essentials — cheese a huge variety of charcuterie — before we settle into the rhythm of campsite life my oldest son Fraser and I walk down to the on-site boulangerie where we pick up two baguettes for breakfast multicolored and inflated trampoline at the end of our road The boys take great pleasure in running as quickly as possible across the dark green section salad and whatever else is in the fridge) is followed by (if we’re lucky) a nap which is often fresh fish bought from the Ty’ Breizh fishmonger: barbecue-grilled Campsites like La Chappelle are soporific places I stroll through the campsite to get something from the shop enjoying the evening warmth with a bottle of wine an absurdly beautiful town set around a bay three miles down the coast where the boys race around the 13th-century castle and we eat a meal in a restaurant by the beach The food (lukewarm fish soup followed by delicately cooked but disastrously under-seasoned cod) is mediocre but the ambiance is unforgettable: A warm sea breeze blows into the lively full restaurant as waiters hustle here and there I slip away from the mobile home for a swim in the gentle Mediterranean an 11-piece band dominated by a high-pitched woodwind instrument called the Catalan shawm Before I get too carried away with the romance of it all I’m brought up short 50 yards down the street There’s a flatbed truck carrying a small monster truck pumping out country music to promote an event that evening up the coast “I’m in a hurry to get things done!” is the repeated chorus as the bright-red truck emblazoned with the word “GRINDER,” sits in rare Argeles traffic Too much fun to be had at the swimming pool Both boys love coming down the slide with their mother and I love paddling around the main pool with their sister fielding questions about her from cooing old-timers and avoiding teens jumping off the blowup crocodiles If the pool is the focus of camp activity during the day France is playing a soccer match against Italy; a few people are chatting and watching but they’re almost exclusively English One man sports a T-shirt celebrating French football genius Zinedine Zidane but when he comes to the bar he orders two pints of beer in a Midlands English accent The French don’t take sport too seriously — a big point in their favor More excitement is generated by another evening’s entertainment at the bar I’m walking past a reception where a chalk sign announces “It’s this evening?” one middle-aged woman says to another this evening!” her friend replies with evident excitement Such are the simple pleasures of life on a French campsite The value of our time away is illustrated a few days after our return when incessant London rain means a planned trip to the park is postponed “When are we going back to our French house?” 2-year-old Keir asks as he stares through the window Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker several villages in the south of France are organizing Christmas markets and fairs for a quick getaway this holiday season but what you may not know is that there are a handful of municipalities near the French border that organize their own Christmas events to medieval castles that illuminate their walls with Christmas lights A few kilometers from Barcelona (about two hours by car almost always) hides a whole Christmas world that is worth taking into account for a getaway this Christmas fairs and Christmas villages in the south of France for a getaway this holiday season Le Barcarès has quickly become an impressive attraction that draws more than 1.5 million visitors each year This space of more than 5 hectares offers an ice rink craft markets and spectacular lighting that creates a magical atmosphere Despite a fire that affected part of the park in November the fair opened its doors again this Christmas 2024 looking to become again one of the stars of Christmas in France as well as in Barcelona and Catalonia take the AP-7 freeway by car (approximately 2.5 hours) The city of Perpignan also signs up for Christmas with a market that stands out for its local crafts and typical gastronomy everything is full of stalls decorated with regional products while the streets are illuminated with festive decorations that invite you to stroll and enjoy the atmosphere take the AP-7 freeway north (about 2 hours from Barcelona) you can arrive directly from Barcelona with Renfe-SNCF in about 1 hour and 30 minutes Argelès-sur-Mer is a French coastal town with a very interesting history as it welcomed Republican refugees during the Civil War it also offers a Christmas market that combines the best of local gastronomy with artisanal products Visitors can sample regional specialties while exploring stalls displaying everything from Christmas decorations to handmade toys How to get there: Just a 20-minute drive from Perpignan on the D914 you can take a bus from Perpignan train station Carcassonne is famous for its stunning medieval town which turns into a real fairytale setting at Christmas Its Christmas market offers handcrafted products lights and shows that recreate the medieval atmosphere of this unique place The walled city of Carcassonne is ideal for strolling among its stalls you can take a high-speed train (TGV) that connects the city directly to Carcassonne in about 2 hours and 30 minutes it takes about 3 hours via the AP-7 and the A61 hosts an exhibition of traditional and creative nativity scenes with different Christmas scenes that are displayed at various points in the village offering a cultural and festive tour for visitors then the N-260 and the D115 to Prats-de-Mollo (about 2 hours and 40 minutes by car) El Soler also proposes a crib route that allows visitors to discover various representations of the birth of Jesus an ideal activity for families wishing to immerse themselves in the French Christmas tradition How to get there: 15 minutes by car from Perpignan buses are available from Perpignan train station Ceret presents a novelty: a Chinese lantern festival installed in the gardens of the castle of Aubiry this display celebrates 60 years of Franco-Chinese friendship and offers an impressive visual spectacle combining culture and festivity dresses up for Christmas with a traditional market full of artisanal products lights illuminate the town and tourists can enjoy concerts and activities for the whole family You can also take a direct train from Barcelona to Collioure Published: Invalid Date NO sooner had I arrived in Argelés-sur-Mer  than a holiday epiphany hit me like a bolt from the blue - and it was as brilliant as the glistening ocean I knew little about this idyllic wonder tucked away in a tranquil corner of France’s world-famous Mediterranean coastline As you glance over a map of France, let your eyes drift to the west of the celebrated resorts of Nice, Cannes and Marseille until you reach the Spanish border just a 90-minute drive north of Barcelona and a shorter hop from Perpignan you’ll see a lesser known border town nestling in the shadow of the Albera Massif mountain range the most eastern elevations of the Pyrenees I’d read a little bit about the history and culture of Argelés-sur-Mer, but I knew there was still much to learn as I flew from Edinburgh to El Prat Airport in Barcelona before a scenic road trip to begin my Catalan getaway The cultural connection was nowhere more pronounced than Auberge du Roua - a  picturesque boutique hotel in a  semi-rural hideaway on the edge of town and even though it’s been transformed into a four-star venue It was an absolute joy to open my eyes each morning to bright rays of sunshine before stepping outside onto a first floor terrace There I could pause to breathe in invigorating gulps of dawn-fresh air from my very own sun trap overlooking a private swimming pool sparkling against a backdrop of endless vineyards This was a taste of more magical moments to come as I set off for a stroll on the town beach - said to be the biggest and best in a region with no shortage of sandy sanctuaries. curling for miles around the bubbling blue surf like an amber ribbon was stunning rest and relaxation are your goal then planning a trip in the spring ahead of the sharp increase in both heat and hotel prices is a wise move A pleasant 22-23C was plenty enough to infuse my pasty Scottish flesh with a long overdue dose of Vitamin D And I’m pleased to report there were more than enough cafes, bars and restaurants open in the early season to satisfy my thirst and taste buds too Up there with the best is surely at the harbourside La Table du Coin where you’re guaranteed a warm welcome and  a menu full of classic seafood dishes A delicious meal was washed down with a glass or three of the local vino before an early rise thenext morning for a trek to the summit of Torre Massone This unmissable 13th century medieval tower stands deceptively high in the hillsides that roll along the town’s southern edge Little wonder this tantalising beacon draws holidaymakers magnetically towards it - but don’t be fooled into thinking you’ll get there and back with ease wearing sandals I clocked seasoned trekkers preparing to set off on the 13km circular route in all the proper walking gear you’d see on any well-worn and chillier route in Scotland Thankfully I was aptly-kitted-out too as we hit the trail from the Chateau Valmy a magnificent art nouveau castle built between 1888 and 1900 by Danish architect Viggo Dorph Petersen From that serene spot it was a steady 800 metre ascent through a natural staircase with the  increasingly rewarding views over Valmy’s sprawling vineyards I learned from our expert guide that the tower was built by the kings of Majorca and was used until the 18th century as both a watchtower and a landmark for ships navigating at sea The trails head off in all directions and there’s a vast hinterland of foothills to be explored making Argelés-Sur-Mer the perfect hub for walking fanatics Around five and a half hours later my aching muscles were crying out for mercy and so my next stop was a masterstroke The Grand Hotel Du Golfe Beauty Spa was going to have its work cut out making my wrinkles vanish but the soothing half-hour massage I enjoyed saw my everyday cares melt away I then spent a tranquil hour flopping between the steam room and jacuzzi as the world stood still It couldn’t last forever though, especially when more delicious food and wine was calling my name from the bistro next door purple artichoke heart and shavings of Jamón Ibérico was a lip-smacking starter followed by a main of hake fillet with seaweed butter and lemon foam Dessert was a lemon dome with white chocolate mousse and a sharp yuzu insert It was another delightful end to a memorable day that set me up perfectly for an early morning adventure on land and sea The Blue Bear biking outfit provided an all-singing, all-dancing electric Cube Stereo mountain bike that had the extra oomph needed to make the next few hours spinning round the hills such a thrill I’m a keen cyclist who normally rides the non-electric option but I’m also a fan of e-bikes as they open the door for all to join in such a fun pursuit I set off with a group of beginners and we all moved at a steady pace with no stragglers thanks to the high-tech boost There are endless trails from easy fire roads to complex black routes as well as miles and miles of interconnecting cycle ways through town and beyond In the afternoon it was my turn to learn new tricks when I made my kayaking debut with the expert assistance of harbour-based Watersports Adventure bobbing and weaving through rocky outcrops and hidden bays tucked away in the wonderful landscape The journey ended back at the beach where I dropped into the cool Mediterranean surf and pledged that this first amazing trip to Argelés-Sur-Mer would not be my last Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here Mother of two with a penchant for interior design Danielle Farrelly reviews her family camping adventure on France's Mediterranean coast Location: La Sirène Campsite in Argelès-sur-Mer on France's Mediterranean coast Who went: A family of four including two young boys aged eight (Joseph) and five (Alfie) How to get there: The nearest airport to La Sirène is 25km away at Perpignan we flew to Carcassonne – saving us about €800 It meant we had a drive of one hour and 20 minutes – but the saving we made more than covered the price of our car rental Another option is to fly into Girona in Spain I heard from other holiday makers that the taxi cost €80 from Perpignan Airport to the campsite for a family of six Airline: We flew with Ryanair to Carcassonne Car Rental: I hate car rental companies when abroad; I always begrudge having to take out extra insurance and pay for child seats We brought our booster seats with us this time so all together we paid Avis €540 for 10 days for a Nissan Duke automatic There was a hairy moment when my other half didn't know how to drive an automatic but after 10 minutes around the carpark he found it very easy and now wants an automatic car and we had to pay one toll which was about €20 We got to the campsite close to 3pm and went straight to the reception desk a holding deposit of €200 was put on the card for any breakages and the remainder of the deposit invoice was paid We were given a couple of bedsheets and were sent on our way to find the mobile home The camp check-in desk reminded us to download the La Sirène App - you really need to do this as the app has everything on it from the schedule of the week to the timeline of daily activities and many of the activities were for kids over the age of six there were daily football matches in which Joseph – and sometimes also his dad – could take part There was a daily 'family football' tournament open to all ages – with the finalists walking out to the sound of the Champions League music Joseph was pretty chuffed to win this competition on his first go (with Dad relegated to playing in goals throughout) But just a word of warning: if you book activities and don't turn up without cancelling in time after two no-shows you are blocked from the app We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences All the mobiles and roads within the campsite look similar and we drove around and around before eventually finding ours We arrived at a very pleasant three-bedroom mobile home We parked right outside the house so we could unload the car and then relocated the car to a nearby parking spot If you don't do that you will have no room to sunbathe or you will have to eat with your car bonnet right beside you The accommodation consisted of two single bedrooms with two single beds each and a double bedroom We felt the mobile would be a little cramped if six people were staying there and we used the other single to store our suitcases and clothes We learned this 'hack' after we went camping in Italy when our youngest The travel cot and suitcases took up the tiny living space – and after a week of rain and Alfie's tummy bug we needed another holiday This time around we spent a little extra for three bedrooms The dining/kitchen space included a small table with a sofa bench The kitchen was well equipped with a four-ring hob A gas 'plancha' BBQ was located on the deck which included a few one-night essentials like toilet roll The air con worked and was really powerful and each window was equipped with mosquito blinds They are there for a reason but we still all managed to get eaten alive On this subject: don't leave the front door open You'll thank me when you wake up on day four of the holiday without a fiery trail of red bumps running from your ankle to the back of your knee (on both legs) We found having liquid antihistamine on hand for the boys was a great idea It takes the sting out of the itch and stops them scratching the bites at night time and to be honest the signal was very weak in our area The drive into the campsite was a little daunting but within an hour of walking around I realised that most mobiles were only about 10 minutes away from the action although we could hear the noise from the nighttime entertainment Everything you need is available nearby as the supermarket bakery and restaurants are all beside each other Our morning started with me walking down to the gorgeous bakery which sold fresh bread Our favourite was the Pain Lena which was a thick rustic stick which cost about €1.60 The bakery stayed open from 7:30am to 8:30pm and never ever seemed to run out of bread You can get coffee from the bar which is located beside the bakery but it cost €4.50 for a six-ounce cup of OK coffee - and it was often less than full The solution for us was to make filtered coffee in the mobile to enjoy with the croissants Next door to the bakery was a little supermarket and it was a tad more expensive than one outside the camp (maybe an extra euro for a lot of products) but that's the price you pay for convenience There were two restaurants on site; one served pizza chicken nuggets and steaks and the other was a little more expensive and had more seafood options We ate at the pizza restaurant a good few times and their delicious pizzas were €14 The only downside was that a lot of the time half the table would get their food first and the other two would get theirs when the meal was almost finished But still there were few complaints as the nearby music pounding from the stage kept the kids occupied we found it less stressful when we cooked on the BBQ and had a glass of wine we didn't think the French steaks were half as nice as Irish ones so we switched to burgers and chicken breasts Another great option was the takeaway attached to the restaurant where you can get pizza and rotisserie chicken and chips The pizzas were the same price as sitting in the restaurant All the restaurants close from 2:30 to 5pm A firm favourite was the ice cream shop - about €3.50 a scoop There were two age groups from 3-5 and 6-12 They do sessions in the morning from 9:30am to 12pm and then 2:30pm to 5pm The lads didn't love it as they felt it was a little boring It was also a good chance to make new friends as it was located beside a great playground which has ziplines and swings and crazy golf Most people looking to book a campsite holiday are looking for exceptional pool facilities It boasts a large pool for small kids where the water goes up to their knees There are also a fair few waterpark slides – ranging in thrill from 'kiddie level' to 'terrified parent' – which are great fun There are also lifeguards on duty which makes it feel safe which cuts out the 'leaving out your towel' business so you find a spot and lay on the artificial grass One odd thing I noticed when I got the kids an ice pop from the shop was that we were told we couldn't eat it on the grass There were also people doing braiding of kids' hair by the pool I wonder was it the fact that they got about two hours of peace while this was taking place About 1km away was an aerial adventure park which we learnt about from the very pleasant workers at the information desk but were advised to come back earlier the next day as it tends to take five hours We did this and they were absolutely right Alfie had a little junior aerial line to use and it was funny seeing him attach himself with the clasps as he was told to do by the instructor Joseph is a bit of an adrenaline fiend and was using the ziplines for 10-year-olds I did a good few of the ziplines myself and they were quite advanced I even had to be helped down by an instructor as I found one just too hard Every evening at 9pm there is a free show - the theme of which will appear on the all-important app It's generally half in French and half in English A firm favourite was the Robot Magic Show on the Friday night When the curtains pulled back there was a massive figure of Bumblebee from Transformers on the stage and Joseph was on a serious high after the performance – boosted by getting his photo taken with Bumblebee himself There is a local Lidl and Aldi about a five-minute drive away but it is massive and a little overwhelming If you don't have a car many people just hire a taxi There's a pharmacy about three minutes away and we also managed a trip to Decathlon (15 minutes) as we forgot sunglasses and flipflops A small so-called 'train' (it's actually a bus) leaves from outside the resort to the town You can get a timetable from the reception desk We did this one evening and the kids loved it Argelès-sur-Mer was full of stalls and tourist trinkets and ice-cream shops but it resulted in a tasty dinner out at La Canne à Sucre Getting back to the resort we hailed an Uber as the 'train' stops at 7pm picturesque village of colourful shop fronts on the seaside Parking can be an issue as it's limited but we went early at about 11am and found a spot We loved this holiday and can see us going back again next year I did find a lot of families came on holiday with their friends so it was hard for our little ones to make friends There was also a lot of activities for teenagers And we loved that they had a gym that overlooked the Pyrenees We would always book a three-bed as we would find it cramped otherwise I think I would fly to Perpignan or Girona next time and just get a taxi to the resort The food was great for a resort and then you also had the option of eating in as you had the BBQ Do be warned the mosquitos are a pain and you'll see many people walking around with massive bites The resort was busy enough at the start of June and I can only imagine the crowds in July as I know it is a firm favourite for holidaymakers apparently is a quieter option for peak season The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites \u003Cp\u003EPhoto: Danielle Farrelly\u003C/p\u003E near the lycée christian bourquin school in argelès-sur-mer, france, MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY has sited an informal amphitheater for both visitors and students ‘pleated inflation’ forms a playful dialogue between lightness and boldness uniting structural performance and spatial experience more than 990 overlapping aluminum shingles form an exterior skin characterized by tangential continuity and rigidity adding to the studio’s body of work dealing with lightweight the permanent installation immerses visitors in ornate shadows and geometries cast though the multiple porous structural pleats spanning overhead the design has been developed through structural form-finding a 2D network of lines inflates and expands in the air resulting in a voluminous space created with minimal the configuration is tessellated through a process of agent-based porosity articulating a continuous ‘pleated’ exterior surface thinning the required profile of each panel more than overlapping 990 aluminum shingles form an exterior skin the installation immerses visitors in ornate shadows and geometries the permanent work is sited near the lycée christian bourquin school in argelès-sur-mer forming a gradient that characterizes the installation skin a voluminous space is created with minimal the design is tessellated through a process of agent-based porosity the design has been developed through form-finding the installation serves as an informal amphitheater for both visitors and students thermolaquagedimensions: 21’ h x 46’ w x 33′ dcommissioned by: region languedoc roussillon AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style The latest victim was a 73-year-old man who died of heart failure in Rivesaltes while trying to force his car through a dip in a road that was flooded Along the banks of the Agly river in the same region the government said about 2,800 people were evacuated by late afternoon on Sunday The flooding was considered more serious than the deadly overflows seen in 1999 with the government saying it would evacuate residents within 200m of the river Another 560 people had already left their homes in Canet The prime minister’s office said the flooding was “exceptional” but added the situation was under control “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Kristel Gregori near the Massane river that often dries up but has turned into a 20 metre-wide torrent “When neighbours woke us up at three o’clock there was already a metre of water in the garage,” she added “The water level has subsided since but the rain hasn’t stopped.” reaching a metre above the level seen during flooding in 1999 that left 35 people dead and one missing in the region in low-lying land and lagoons just south of Narbonne SubscriptionOffers Give a Gift Subscribe Franco’s 1939 victory in the Spanish Civil War saw half a million refugees head north to France. They would be followed by many more in a decade of disaster. Today’s wave of desperate asylum seekers fleeing the Middle East and North Africa is sometimes seen as a return to the late 1940s, when millions were set adrift by the unprecedented violence of the Second World War. Yet the opening chapter in this age of refugees came not in 1945 but in 1939, with the exodus of Spaniards fleeing the newly installed regime of Francisco Franco. La Retirada, the retreat of Spaniards at the conclusion of the three-year-long Spanish Civil War, purged the country of half a million republican sympathisers. But, if their flight was unlamented in Spain, they were no more welcome in France. The icy reception by the government of France would be swiftly followed by the callous treatment of other anti-fascists: Germans, Austrians, Poles, Hungarians and Jews, among others. By late October 1938 the elected republican government of Spain was in dire straits. The government had just 17,000 rifles to defend Catalonia, the last bastion of the Republic.  When Barcelona fell on January 23rd, 1939, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, fearing Franco’s wrath, fled as quickly as their exhausted limbs could move them to the French border. As they made the perilous trek over the Pyrenees, the Spaniards might have hoped that after three years of war they had survived the worst. They were disappointed. If war was hell, exile in France was hell in a colder climate. Under the Popular Front government, which came to power in 1936, France had officially acted as neutral, but stood in unofficial solidarity with the government in Spain. But in June 1937 the administration of socialist Léon Blum fell to conservative demonstrations, terror and intrigue and the incoming Radical government, with Édouard Daladier at the helm, regarded the Spaniards as dangerous reds who threatened to destabilise an already politically fragile country. Ill-prepared for a mass influx of refugees and preoccupied with an unpredictable Adolf Hitler, the French government forced hundreds of thousands of Spaniards into squalid camps scattered across southern France. The exiles were interned in 15 improvised sites, some just barbed-wire enclosures laid out over Mediterranean beaches, lacking shelter and sanitary or cooking facilities. In the first six dismal months, 14,672 refugees in these ‘reception centres’ died from malnutrition or dysentery. One of the most notorious of the camps that served as a makeshift holding pen was the Camp de Rivesaltes, which clung to a windswept semi-desert near Perpignan. Built in 1938 to acclimatise troops to arid conditions, the camp was hastily reconfigured to take in Spanish refugees. For the 8,000 men, women and children in it, Rivesaltes was only a slight improvement on the exposed beaches of the camps at Saint-Cyprien, Argelès-sur-Mer and Le Barcarès. If they lacked adequate food, accommodation and medicine, the refugees there found they had an abundance of another amenity: French guards. ‘We’re up to our ears in gendarmes’, complained one refugee. The supervision was so pervasive and perverse that ‘they spied on us when we had a bowel movement’. Another exile recalled that the guards ‘treated us like dogs; they robbed us; they beat us; they pushed us around.  For them we were just a bunch of undesirables whom they needed to get rid of as soon as possible, but only after, of course, they had bled us dry’. Little wonder that one of the Spanish artists who graphically captured the exiles’ misery, Josep Bartoli, portrayed French guards as morbidly obese martinets in fancy uniforms supervising stick figures of half-dressed inmates. Taunted and ill-treated, the refugees understood that the object was to force them back to Spain. In despair, some complied. On return they were greeted at the border by the Guardia Civil, then sent to prison or, in some cases, executed. By December 1939, just under 200,000 Spaniards and others who fought in Spain remained in France. If Rivesaltes could be generously labelled a ‘reception camp’ – one of several euphemisms used to disguise their true function of internment – another notorious prison at Vernet deserved the description assigned it by writer Arthur Koestler: ‘the worst in France’. Initially, the Vernet camp, some 50 kilometres from Spain, was used to detain the most militant of the foreign combatants who had fought in the International Brigades, including members of the anarchist Durruti Division and communists from Germany and Austria. Six months later they were joined by another wave of anti-fascists. When Germany declared war on September 1st, 1939, France turned sour on another group of the three million exiles living in its midst. Over the previous six years these outcasts had fled Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the authoritarian regimes of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. As one of the hated foreigners with dubious political sentiments, Koestler was arrested a month after the war began and interned at the Vernet camp. At the time, he thought the conditions were ‘even below the level of Nazi concentration camps’, though 30 of the men in his barrack could make the comparison with greater authority: they had all suffered periods of imprisonment at Dachau, Oranienburg and Wolfsbüttel. ‘If somebody screamed at night in our barrack, we knew he had dreamt of the Gestapo. And, regaining consciousness, he recognized with relief the smell of the rotting straw of Vernet’, Koestler caustically observed. Some Spaniards were able to leave the camps in France under extraordinary circumstances, by, for example, agreeing to volunteer for the French Foreign Legion in North Africa. There, they later joined up with Allied units to help fight the Axis forces. Resistance in the camps also took on artistic forms. The Catalan artist Josep Franch Clapers had fought against Franco in 1936. But along with hundreds of thousands of comrades he found himself in French ‘sojourn camps’ in 1939. Throughout the year he spent in two camps he sketched and painted hundreds of images to document the inhuman conditions imposed on the Spaniards. After the war, a show of his work was mounted in Paris. The defeat of fascism in 1945 allowed millions of displaced people to make their way home. The Spanish Civil War refugees, however, could not do so. Their country would remain in the grip of Franco until his death in 1975. Of the 500,000 Spanish refugees in France in 1939, 160,000 remained in 1962. Although France encouraged Algerians to remain loyal to it, when the war was lost the government had no plan to accommodate the Harkis in the metropolis. For years, it did not recognise any right for them to stay in France as residents and citizens. An apology of sorts was offered to the Harkis in 2012, when President Nicolas Sarkozy recognised France’s ‘historical responsibility’ in abandoning and interning Harki Algerian veterans. Larry Hannant is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. © Copyright 2025 History Today Ltd. Company no. 1556332. Memoirs of the last surviving 'Mother of Elne', who gave birth in a maternity hospital for refugees in France Remei Oliva has returned to Elne Maternity hospital for the launch of the Catalan translation of her memoirs as a Civil War exile When Spain fell to Franco's fascist troops a 20-year-old Remei was forced to abandon her job as a seamstress in Badalona she spent fifteen months in internment camps in Argelès-sur-Mer and Saint-Cyprien a converted château set up by Swiss schoolteacher Elisabeth Eidenbenz to provide a safe place for pregnant refugees to give birth Remei is the last surviving 'Mother of Elne' just shy of her 103rd birthday (she was born September 29 she was back at the hospital to attend a commemorative event and the launch of the Catalan translation of her autobiography Remei was encouraged to write the book by one of her daughters-in-law and then they were rearranged chronologically "Because I kept everything in my memory I was able to write it down just as it was," she said during the presentation Elne Maternity was a godsend for those pregnant women like Remei who lived in terrible conditions in the internment camps and she is glad that later in life she was able to meet and thank again the woman behind the hospital 597 children of Republican exiles detained at the Argelès-sur-Mer internment camp were born there between 1939 and 1944 Remei hopes that her book ensures that "the memory lives on" and that the barbarity of war and exile will never be forgotten Catalonia's justice minister Lourdes Ciuró said that Remei's story was a "very valuable testimony" because it is a symbol of the courage and dignity of exiled Republican women "It gives us a clear picture of all the women who were victims of that forced exile "She tells us about life in the refugee camps about the absence of fathers for the children About how everyone struggled internally to survive in subhuman conditions and how The Catalan translation of Remei Oliva's memoirs is called 'La noia de la capsa de fils' (The Sewing Box Girl) Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. causing floods across the south west of the country the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales department Levels of the Agly River in the Pyrenees-Orientales department were so high that between 2,000 to 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes along the river on Sunday 30 November 2014 Most of the evacuations were near the towns of Rivesaltes Around 400 people were also evacuated near the town of Canet in the Aude department Five people have died in the latest floods that began on 27 November One woman was found dead on 27 November in La Londe Three more deaths were reported soon after died of heart failure yesterday after his car was caught up in flood water in Rivesaltes — L'Indépendant.fr (@WEBINDEP) November 30, 2014 Rivesaltes : la crue fait une victime http://t.co/qj3zdmZoXr pic.twitter.com/Xi0OUnz1Io — Clyde Barrow (@Clyde_Barrow_) November 30, 2014 Des renforts du sdis 30 viennent de partir du centre de secours de #Rivesaltes. #crue depuis le pont. pic.twitter.com/2QNoQwwlHg — Jimmy5957 (@jimmy57geo) November 30, 2014 Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed From a pine-shaded eco-resort in Croatia to a campsite in Portugal, our tipsters share their favourite breaks• Scroll down to see the winning tip and enter the competition to win a Coolstays break AlbaniaAlbania might not be the first place that springs to mind for a beach holiday but the resorts just half an hour from Tirana offer golden sands The long sweep of the crescent-shaped coastline offers all-day sun and Albania’s opening up especially once you convert your pounds to the local leks A cheap option to get there is to fly into Corfu then take a ferry over for about €20 each way We based ourselves in Dhërmi where you can try a different beach every day A picnic basket for four costs around £20 and lunch at a nice restaurant starts from £8.Nigel Cox Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage Thank you for your feedback.Eco-friendly, CroatiaPakoštane. Photograph: Dalibor Brlek/AlamyAll-inclusive resorts can feel soulless and environmentally damaging, but at Pine Beach in Pakoštane (€2,478 a week including all meals accommodation is in eco-friendly thatched reed bungalows overlooking a white sand beach It’s easy to switch off here: the bungalows (which sleep up to five) have no electricity and each one is tucked into a shady pine forest Budgeting is straightforward and cheap: all food and local drinks are included Wifi and charging points abound for those who simply can’t be away from their devices.Jack Ang Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings walking towards the sea Photograph: Nature Picture Library/AlamyFor a taste of how Turkey used to be 40 years ago head to İnlice – about half an hour’s drive east of Dalaman It has a beautiful horseshoe-shaped sand/shingle beach with perfectly clear water where you coud have loggerhead turtles keeping you company while you swim Behind the beach is the state-run (licensed) cafe-bar where locals man the barbecue and turn out amazing gözleme (turnovers) Accommodation is in simple bungalows and pensions – Inlice Unzile Bungalow is a good choice You can take the Havas airport bus from Dalaman and alight on the main D400 road a few minutes walk from the village This party of south-west Turkey is 600 miles away from the region so terribly devastated by earthquakes recently.Jayne is a short taxi ride or boat trip away.Johnny The Goatshed (from €500 a week sleeps 4) on the western Peloponnese is a well equipped converted goat shed within walking distance of Koroni’s tavernas and beautiful beaches and you’ll have your own cove with no one else there Fida is the perfect host and will give you a personal tour of the area on arrival Driving across country is easy due to great network of toll roads.Putu Winchester featured trips and local tips for your next break as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Tróia Photograph: Cesar Soares/AlamyThe Tróia peninsula in Portugal’s Grândola Municipality is a tranquil paradise of 13 miles of sandy beaches and pine dunes Private rentals start at £500 per week for a family of four The nearby Parque Natural da Arrábida has beautiful hiking while there is winetasting in Azeitão’s cellars Setubal is just a 20-minute ferry crossing Hotel Insula (from £300 a week for a room for four in June) appears to be very Maldives-esque making for an incredible view to wake up to in the morning and having breakfast overlooking the lake and the sea is wonderful The lake is separated from the sea by a sand bar – the beach is just a 10-minute walk around the lake The Black Sea coast of Romania has lovely weather in summer and is extremely affordable There are also plenty of amenities with a water park just down the beach and several restaurants and bars along all of the “planetary” beaches from Neptune down to Saturn.Saul Porter Soaking up sun rays on the beach and by the pool, laughing with new-found friends, the cold greyness of London only a few hours behind me, Grand Canaria’s Blue Ocean Camp Tasartico (from €250 a week for a hut for two) is a travellers’ heaven budget-friendly wooden hut I am staying in provides all I need: solitude It also offers a range of accommodation from camping to a plush motorhome Playa de la Albufereta Photograph: AlamyAlicante has everything you want – beach I was really drawn to the funky fun modernist architecture of Juan Guardiola Gaya especially around the neighbouring Albufereta I booked an apartment in the city for £500 for a whole month Easy day trips are available to Benidorm (if you must) Prices are geared to locals and reasonable looking from the soft sands below our feet to the blue skies above Leaning back to soak up what’s left of the afternoon sun we listen to the waves lap on to the shore and the sea breeze blow gently through the lush hills behind us We weren’t actually anywhere near the Caribbean In fact we were a mere hour and a half from the UK by plane, close to the French-Spanish border in the super-cool region of Argeles-sur-Mer And this holiday had cost us a fraction of the price of one in the Caribbean Eurocamp’s La Sirène site, where we were staying, sits on the same stretch of coastline as the Costa Brava which attracts millions of Brits each year Short, affordable flight? Tick. Sunny weather in summer? Tick. Wide, sandy beaches? Tick. And although we were staying on a campsite, that didn’t mean cramming the whole family into a tiny tent in the sizzzling heat, relying on shared bathroom facilities. La Sirene has modern holiday lodges with comfy beds, small kitchens and private decking for soaking up the sun or al fresco meals if you don’t want to venture out. was sheltered under a huge pine tree with an excellent BBQ area shower room and separate toilet along with open-plan modern kitchen diner and much-needed air con gave us all we needed for a comfortable stay the campsite itself had even more to offer La Sirene is a holiday village that’s completely geared up for families with a 2,000 square metres of pool featuring more than a dozen slides for kids (and bigger kids) as well as kids’ clubs for youngsters and older teens All of these on-site activities are included in the price of a stay — you just need to download the nifty app and book on to them can leave all nerves at home and hammer down a zipwire at lightning speed Jamie, 18, somehow manages to speak more to French and German teenagers in the bar than he does to his parents And I even managed an exercise class with my superfit mum on the water-friendly spinning bikes in the shallow end of the pool What we really loved about the site was that there was no sand or mud which meant there was no need to brush down sandy toes before re-entering the lodge and comfortable sun bathing was made easy-peasy We’d flown from Stansted to Perpignan in just 90 minutes and taken the half an hour drive to Argeles-sur-Mer in our hire car So within a mere five hours of leaving home we had stocked the fridge and were at the pool kicking back with an ice-cold drink in hand in the glorious heat beer or local wine in the sun or shade while the kids splash about in the pool and on the climbing frames meaning you don’t need to leave for food if you don’t want to there’s so much entertainment in the form of a bustling bar This holiday village really does have everything you need in one place it’s pretty clear Eurocamp has nailed this type of holiday a proper notch above the rest is its location There are a handful of stunning beaches all within ten minutes’ drive Plage de la Marenda was Joshua’s favourite for the swim out to the pontoon and diving into the beautiful Med There are also dozens of restaurants near these beaches too some of which offered a three-course set menu for less than 30 euros steaks served on sizzling skillets and the freshest of king prawns a five to ten-minute drive away in the tiny village of Le Racou on a dusty road lined with food shacks and palm trees It certainly had the vibe of a French Caribbean island mum and I could have sat clinking glasses all afternoon in Spanish-themed Menja Aqui which translates to “eat here” — and who am I to argue? we were packing ourselves off with a picnic of warm fresh bread and croissants from the on-site boulangerie The more adventurous could even hire bikes and cycle into the Pyrenees — we drove up one day for the amazing views — and Barcelona is not far across the border if you fancy a day trip But with all that authentic tapas at Menja Aqui, who needs Barcelona GETTING/STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ B&B at the 5* Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel in Paphos is from £969pp based on two adults sharing and including flights from Gatwick on April 21 and private transfers This offer includes a 20 per cent discount Book by February 29. Call 01924 380 160 or see cbh-cyprus.com Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. Images taken from a campsite in the Pyrénées-Orientales region in the south of France, with a number of Cork and Irish families caught up in evacuations as firefighters worked around the clock to quench wildfires engulfing the region. Up to 3,000 holidaymakers were evacuated from campsites in recent days near Argelès-sur-Mer in the southeast of France near to the Spanish border The area is a perennial favourite of Irish tourists every summer with a range of campsites hosting generations of families Humphrey and Marie Moynihan from Ballinlough in Cork described the worry for families as the wildfires approached.  Their campsite was spared but Marie said driving around the area in the aftermath was surreal and almost apocalyptic as campsites were razed to the ground Hundreds of firefighters remain in situ after quelling the worst of the blaze in the region Daughter Audrey Cummins said: "Only for the incredible bravery of the firefighters The fire in the south of France burned through 500 hectares of land before the blaze was brought under control on Tuesday The French environment minister said climate change exacerbated conditions of drought that fed the fire No residents or tourists were injured in the fire "Drought and fire are two sides of the same coin: climate change," Christophe Bechu said in a tweet during a visit to site of the fire in the Pyrenees-Orientales region near the Spanish border Crews prepare to fight against the wildfires at the municipality of Candelaria in Tenerife Picture: Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesHe added that this summer has seen fewer fires than last year when 70,000 hectares were burnt to cinders but it was necessary to be "humble" as summer was not over Five regions in the east of the country are currently on "high alert" for heatwaves according to the French weather authority Meteo France website It comes as five villages on the island of Tenerife were evacuated as wildfires cast a surreal light over the city of Santa Cruz which started on Tuesday night in the area of ​​Monte de Arafo in the north east had spread over 800 hectares by Wednesday afternoon and access was cut off to the forest surrounding the Mount Teide volcano Canadian officials ordered the evacuation of the Northwest Territories' capital of Yellowknife and several smaller communities on Wednesday as a massive wildfire threatened the town of Hay River overnight a community of some 3,000 on Great Slave Lake by bus or plane on Wednesday night as the fire approached It comes as more than 110 people died following a wildfire in Hawaii last week The grassland fire on August 8 raced down the base of a volcano sloping into the tourist resort town of Lahaina destroying or damaging some 2,200 buildings From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in Follow and share the latest news and stories more climate change articles Michael Gaine's wife Janice Gaine and his sister Noreen O'Regan appeal for information about his disappearance Commemorating 100 years since the War of Independence THE South of France conjures up images of high fashion and sipping wine by the sun-kissed sea But as I crashed into the cold water for the second time that morning all that could not have been further from my mind fully immersed in nature as I made my way through the water on a paddleboard gently flowing water and probably some otters hiding in the banks I’d been staying in the seaside town of Les Argeles-Sur-Mer This is a region known for its outdoor activities — and it’s not hard to see why There’s incredible beaches and rugged mountains including the Massane nature reserve but instead a luxury wooden cabin complete with heating and running water Le Dauphin is a five-star site that not only boasts glam tent lodges and chic mobile homes with proper beds and en-suites, but also a yoga studio, three swimming pools and an incredible garden with seemingly a million different plants. My cabin was so cosy, it was difficult to tear myself away from my peaceful slumber to soak up the great outdoors. ready to tackle the Massane trail which leads you through 14km of rocky pastures and up toward the 13th-century Massane Tower which sits at the peak of the mountain the pelting rain meant no breathtaking views and therefore no challenging trek But we could still get our hiking kicks on a lower trail that winds past an adorable church and Chateau Valmy We were following paths that I was certain were meant for mountain goats rather than humans as I ducked and dived to avoid twigs and leaves But that only made the experience more exhilarating the heavens opened and we were soaked and slipping all over the rain cleared and we were left with the magnificent sight of a huge stone chapel built so farmers did not have to go down the mountain in the Middle Ages to pray was not the chapel itself but to the right where a bright rainbow had formed over the hillside welcoming us to the highest point of our walk we clambered back down the mountain to the campsite where a yoga instructor was preparing to stretch out our tired muscles but the pain was worth it the next morning It’s not just treks and yoga that are on offer here there’s a whole host of watersports you can get stuck into Book a kayaking expedition where you’ll paddle through waves spotting wildlife under the guidance of a local expert we bobbed along the coastline taking in the wide mountains and abundance of marine life which is surprisingly relaxing for a sea-based activity lasts about two hours and is done first thing in the morning to avoid any strong gusts of wind in the afternoon If you’re after something that requires a little less energy book a boat that will take you on a tour of the three nearby ports Collioure and Vendres — where almost all of the bananas in Europe arrive in cargo deliveries It’s perhaps best to save this for a less windy day particularly if you have a sensitive stomach so much so that it made the early-morning kayak seem like a doddle If we’d have been kayaking on those rough waters GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies from various UK airports, including Luton, Birmingham and Manchester, to Barcelona from £15 each way. See ryanair.com STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering at Camping Le Dauphin is from £301.38 in total (€360), based on two adults and up to four children sharing. See campingledauphin.com For more information, see argeles-sur-mer.co.uk Vietnamese cuisine surprised hundreds of French people at an event in the town of Argelès-sur-Mer last week Themed “Journey to Vietnamese World Heritage” the event featured Vietnamese gastronomy shows a conference and exhibition on UNESCO-recognised heritage sites across Vietnam an introduction to fruit and vegetable carving and exchanges between Vietnamese and French chefs Vietnamese dishes were introduced and discussed from the standpoint of balancing ingredients In recent years Vietnamese cultural programs have been organized in many countries and warmly praised by foreigners.  Stefan Orsos one of the organizers of the “Vietnam Experience” street food festival in the Czech Republic last month said: “Vietnamese dishes are popular with Czech people It’s possibly the top foreign food in our country We hope the festival will make Vietnamese food more familiar to local people.” International food festivals held in Vietnam have attracted many foreign visitors recently named by international travel agencies one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations promotes its cuisine as a major attraction Deputy Director of Da Nang’s  Tourism Department said: “We’ve invited international master chefs to work with local chefs to diversify Da Nang’s culinary art we want to cater to the tastes of tourists from many countries.” Vietnamese cuisine has become an important component of the cultural diplomacy conveying Vietnam’s image to the world La Rédac' Photo non contractuelle ©Drop-in Argelès – Water JumpCe samedi 24 juin aura lieu l'inauguration d'une nouvelle attraction à l'UCPA Aqua Stadium de Mérignac Les amateurs de sensations fortes ne seront pas en reste avec le tout premier Water Jump de la métropole.  Il y a quelques mois on vous présentait l'ouverture prochaine de l'UCPA Aqua Stadium à Mérignac la nouvelle piscine de haut standing avec un complexe aquatique & sportif gigantesque de l'eau a coulé sous les ponts et la nouvelle destination aqualudique multiplie les surprises L'inauguration de son Water Jump pour vivre de nouvelles sensations L'attraction compte 8 pistes pour glisser et réaliser des figures les plages extérieures seront officiellement inaugurées ce samedi 24 juin Pour l'occasion, food trucks et DJs sets seront de la partie et un spectacle acrobatique signé par la compagnie Tango Nomade rythmera la journée.  Une publication partagée par UCPA Aqua Stadium Merignac (@ucpa.aquastadium_merignac) Toutes les infos par ici Ce parc de 30 hectares avec lac protégé est le plus beau de la métropole bordelaise Plus de 100 châteaux ouvrent leurs portes tout le week-end pour les JPO de Saint-Emilion Les 5 plages les plus proches de Bordeaux Marie OKUn festival avec vue de la mer en Occitanie c'est possible et ça fait même 10 ans qu'il existe Situé à Argelès sur Mer les amateurs de musique écoutent les plus grandes stars internationales et étoiles montantes de la scène pop rock Les Déferlantes ont vu les choses en grand Entre la mer et la montagne et sous la chaleur du soleil catalan on adore assister au festival Les Déferlantes Il faut dire que le cadre est tout aussi incroyable que la programmation hip/hop et électro se donnent rendez-vous dans le cadre magnifique qu'est au Château de Valmy à Argelès sur Mer On adore voir sur scène nos artistes préférés avec la mer Méditerranée en toile de fond #Déferlantes17 #les10ans âš¡ï¸Â NOUVEAUX NOMS âš¡ï¸Â Une publication partagée par Les Déferlantes (@lesdeferlantes) le 17 Févr 08 JUILLET - Ouverture à 14h30 09 JUILLET - Ouverture à 14h30 10 JUILLET - Ouverture à 14h30 11 JUILLET - Ouverture à 14h30 La billeterie est déjà disponible Il faut compter entre 47€ le pass journée et 156€ le pass 4 jours Il est possible de venir à Arglès/Mer en voiture et de se garer sur les parkings gratuits que sont : la « PRADE BASSE » est situé à 100 mètres du port (à 1,7km du festival) et au parking le « RACOU » (anciennement Valmarie) situé à 200m du premier lorsqu'il sera complet en train jusqu'à Argelès/Mer ou en avion depuis Perpignan le département des Pyrénées Orientales met à disposition des bus à 1€ pratique pour faire Perpignan-Argelès ou encore toutes les villes côtières jusqu'à Argelès sachez que le festival a mis en place des navettes pour rejoindre le Château de Valmy Les Déferlantes - Sud de FranceChâteau Valmy, Chemin de Valmy - 66700 Argelès-sur-MerDu 8 au 11 juillet 2017Billeterie Le plus gros festival hardcore de France va débarquer à Toulouse en mai  5 festivals pour fêter le printemps en musique  Un énorme festival dédié à l'espace débarque en mai à Toulouse