Tranquil apartment in an ancient Mas between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean

Experience the magic of the Pyrénées-Orientales at our charming apartment in the village of Reynès. Called Le Grenier (the loft), it is one of seven carved out of a 15th-century stone farmhouse (Mas Pallarès). It is fully modernized and tastefully furnished. Its comfortable terrace provides breathtaking views of the Pyrenees foothills and the complex’s constantly blooming garden, which includes a swimming pool. Enter from the sunny terrace into a cozy livingroom and then step into an open-plan kitchen and dining space with a picture window (framed with wisteria in the spring). The main floor also includes the master bedroom and a bathroom next door, then walk down a short staircase to the second bedroom-bathroom suite.

Reynès is a small, peaceful town located near the larger and bustling historic town of Céret (La “Ville d’Art”), a favorite of artists and musicians, past and present. Opportunities for walks, hikes, and bike rides in the breathtakingly beautiful hills are endless. The nearest boulangerie is within a 15-minute walk, and a well-stocked Lidl supermarket can be reached in 5 minutes by car.

Nearby Céret has a medieval church and walls, a famous Saturday market, lovely shops, fine restaurants, an extraordinary Modern Art Museum, and a Music Museum … and even an active rugby field and bull ring. The art museum features rotating exhibits and a permanent collection of works by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Chagall, Dali, and others who lived and painted here. On the Mediterranean shore, starting about 30 minutes away is the regional capital, Perpignan, tourist favorites like Argelès-sur-Mer (with beaches and a memorial to the Spanish civil war), Collioure (with a medieval castle and fortress, a beachfront, and charming shopping streets), and wine-producing towns like Port Vendres and Banyuls-sur-Mer, whose terraced vineyards run down the hills to the sea.

Further south, the coastal road enters Northern Spain and the Costa Brava, passing through Salvador Dali’s hometown (with his museum in the nearby town of Figueres), and the charming ancient city of Girona with its annual flower festival. Just another hour away is the magnificent metropolis of Barcelona and all its treasures, including Gaudi's masterpiece, La Sagrada Família Basilica, and his intriguing Guell Park. (These wonderful Spanish sites can also be accessed via the Interstate expressway A9/AP7.)

Also not to be missed are the inland treasures of the region: Mont Canigou, sacred in local tradition; stone mountainside villages like Castelnou and Eus; and the monastery of St. Martins high up on Canigou’s shoulder.

In short, Mas Pallarès is an idyll from which to enjoy the well-kept secret wonders of Southern France and Northern Spain.