Laroque des Albères
Laroque is a Catalan village in the far south of France, originally built on a small hill below the Massif des Albères, the easternmost block of the Pyrenees. The fortifications on the hill date back to the 9th century, though the tower now standing dates from the mid-13th century. A rather more detailed history can be found here.
Laroque is an excellent centre for a holiday, being only 10km from the Mediterranean at Argelès-sur-Mer, close to northern Spain (on foot the border is only 4km away, though it is almost 1km up as well!!), within easy reach of much of the eastern Pyrenees, surrounded by the beautiful plains and hills of Roussillon, and with good access by air, rail and motorway. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers, mild winters, and around 300 sunny days per year.
The village has a variety of shops, bars and restaurants, a weekly market, and an excellent tourist office. The ambience is friendly and relaxed. Both the village itself and its immediate surroundings provide ample opportunity for gentle walking, while the network of quiet country roads in the neighbourhood are ideal for cycling.