Tuesday morning there is a bustling market in Prades, which is about 5 minute drive from Ria Sirach Apartments. A range of colourful stalls selling local food, vegetables, clothing, crafts and wine. The market is pretty big and busy especially in July / August. On Saturday mornings there is a smaller producer market, with some crafts, local cheeses and loads of organic producers. 
Train Jaune /Yellow Train leaves from the picturesque walled town Villefranche de Conflent ( around 5 minutes from the Apartments) and winds its way high into the Pyrenees. Great for a day out in the mountains. In summer most trains have open carriages.
Canigou dominates the landscape – It stands a magnificant 2785m and is snow covered from November to May. The views from the top are wonderful and it’s not too difficult. Put it on your bucket list!
Sadly like many villages all over France Ria-Sirach has lost the village baker. They just cannot compete with the supermarkets. However the village has come up with a solution – bread vending machines. T
here are three installed in the village and the bread is really good!
Ria- Sirach twin villages are situated between Prades and Villefranche de Conflent. The village is around 45 minutes from the coast and the same distance from the high Pyrenees.
This morning we said farewell to our latest guests from Toulouse. Turns out they had a little Irish blood in them. Their Granny was Doherty, a real Donegal name. Catherine’s granny was O’Doherty. Related? They will be looking for family discount next time!
You think Pizza and you think Italian – well after a while in France you might have other ideas . Pizza Restaurants are everywhere. Our local pizza is run by a real character Jordi who can converse in many languages. He recently won a pizza making competition in Toulouse and is now progressing to the National Final. Felicitations Jordi. https://www.facebook.com/lapizzeriadesrmparts/
Rent from two night in any of our apartments in the coming Valentine’s week and get complimentary bubbly, chocolates and flowers as well as logs for the wood burner. Everything for a romantic getaway.
Prades ville-étape du Tour d’Espagne !C’est une information France Bleu Roussillon. La Vuelta fera étape dans les Pyrénées-Orientales ! On savait qu’après le grand départ de Nîmes les coureurs éviteraient Perpignan, mais ils s’arrêteront en Conflent, avant de rejoindre l’Andorre.
Les stars du cyclisme Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome et Alberto Contador poseront pied dans les Pyrénées-Orientales ! Ca ne sera pas avec le Tour de France en juillet prochain, mais avec le Tour d’Espagne, fin août ! C’est d’ailleurs une grande première pour le département.
Canigou is a magnificent mountain. It towers over the whole area. It is considered sacred to the Catalans and a trip up it is a must. For the faint hearted this can be achieved by a combination of jeep ride and a shortish slog to the top or for the more adventurous. – the hike up is around five hour and there is an excellent hostel for an overnigh
t stay.