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Elne, Languedoc-Roussillon travel guide
Elne is found 4 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean on the Tech River 12km from Perpignan.
Elne sits in a raised position, on the narrow strip of lowland that separates the Mediterranean from the foothills of the eastern Pyrenees, with the mountains forming a suitably dramatic backdrop. It has an interesting and long history that includes Hannibal and his elephants stopping there for a while en-route for Italy in the 3rd century BC.
Elne Cathedral and cloister will be the highlight of your visit - the Cathedral Sainte-Eulalie-et-Sainte-Julie was completed in the 11th century, although the cloister was added some three hundred years later. During the barbaric Aragon Crusade the town was besieged and many people took refuge inside the cathedral - as a consequence so the cathedral was set on fire and all the people were slaughtered.
The last 400 years have been rather quieter for Elne, and there is still a great deal to interest visitors to the town, including some important archaeological remains.
Market day especially bears witness to Elne's current role as an agricultural region, with vineyards and orchards especially important.
The local Butterfly Farm, set in a tropical garden, is said to be very pleasant.
Elne: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
Visit Elne, France |
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Map of Elne, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Elne
See the Visit Elne section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Elne car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Elne
- Banyuls Wine and harbour town
- Castelnou Most beautiful village
- Ceret Art town
- Collioure Fishing and Fauvists harbour
- Elne Place
- Fort de Salses Languedoc castle
- Perpignan Large Languedoc town
- Argeles-sur-Mer Languedoc seaside resort
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Elne, France
This Elne tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
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