The Laroque Mairie site provides an introduction to the history and facilities of Laroque.
We have not provided maps on this site, because decent map sites are always copyrighted, always prohibit reproduction, and usually prohibit other sites from linking to anything other than their home page.
The Michelin on-line map is the best we have found. In the "Maps in Europe" section, type "Laroque" into the City box and "66740" into the Postcode box, and click "OK". Click on the Enlarge link to get a map from the A9 motorway to the Mediterranean at Argelès-sur-Mer. Zoom in for more detail, or zoom out for a regional overview.
For paper maps, we recommend the Michelin 1:200,000 Languedoc Roussillon regional map (yellow cover, sheet 240) as a good local road map, and the Michelin 1:130,000 Costa Brava "zoom map" (green cover, sheet 122) for the nearby parts of Spain. They can both be found in the UK at good bookshops such as Borders, or at amazon.co.uk.
For walking, we recommend Institut Geographique National (IGN) 1:25,000 maps, which cover the whole of France in 2,000 sheets. The IGN 1:25,000 map for the Laroque area is "Banyuls, Col
du Perthus & Cote Vermeille: 2549OT" (we have framed part of it and hung it in the entrance hall of the downstairs apartment). IGN maps are available in France from good bookshops, e.g. the Maison de la Presse chain
(branches in Céret and Port Vendres), or by mail order from Maps Worldwide. Alternatively, 1:50,000 Cartes des Randonnées are a good alternative and cover a much larger area on each sheet; also available from Maison de la Presse. Be warned that these maps may not always be up to date; we have sometimes found that footpaths marked on the map have completely disappeared on the ground, and close comparison between the two makes of map sometimes reveals subtle differences (and they cannot both be right!!). This in itself is a good reason for having a copy of both types.
The Rough Guide to the Pyrenees is our constant companion when exploring this area, and we have placed a copy in the downstairs apartment. It covers both the French and Spanish sides of the border. Others guides worth considering, particularly if you expect to head towards the north e.g. into the Corbières, are the Michelin Green Guide to Languedoc, Roussillon and the Tarn Gorges, and the Rough Guide to Languedoc and Roussillon.
The nearest weather station is at Perpignan airport, which is in the middle of the Roussillon plain. Although Laroque is almost in the mountains, we have found that weather.com's Perpignan forecasts are reasonably reliable for Laroque as well. There are several choices, including 10 day outlook and detailed one day forecasts; there's even an hourly forecast for the next 48 hours. Meteo France provide a 1-day forecast for Perpignan based on French Meteorological Office data; they now charge for the previously free 4-day on-line forecast. Weatherbase.com provides comprehensive monthly averages of temperature and rainfall.
Canigou from Perpignan
The gardens of the Palais des Rois de Majorque, Perpignan