Leucate

Visit Leucate, Languedoc-Roussillon

Leucate is a popular seaside resort town on the Languedoc coast of southern france between Perpignan and Narbonne. For visitors leucate falls into three distinct attractions: the beach, the village of Leucate, and the headland known as Cap Leucate.

Explore Leucate

Leucate is a lovely old village full of colour. As soon as we discovered it I fell in love immediately and wanted to stay forever, but house prices dictated we looked elsewhere. This didn’t stop us driving down to this gorgeous spot whenever we had the time.

Lovely outdoor cafes, a ruined castle on a hill, a micro-climate in which the sun always seems to shine, the best croissants we have ever tasted (seriously) - you know, all the good stuff. The village is lively and colourful and a very friendly place to visit in summer.

From the lighthouse on Cap Leucate, on a clear day, you have a view over the mediterranean sea to the Spanish border, and a panoramic view of the snow capped Pyrenees during winter.  It really is breathtaking. If you are here for the beach you will also find the beach front is totally uncommercial, with just a couple of discreet hotels and restaurants, it’s perfect.

During the summer months the lagoon fills with windsurfers and the place is abuzz, especially with free-campers.  For the more adventurous windsurfer, the sea offers a good sail at La Franqui and beyond the campsite at Leucate plage - where there are a couple of very trendy beach bars during high season.

Now I can’t help but be all British and say that one of the things I like most about Leucate is the parking situation. I know, how very boring. But doesn’t it make such a difference when you can just arrive, park and get straight on that beach? No hassle at all and it’s all free! If you are in a camper, like us, you can pitch up for the night for €6 right on the beach, or pay a little more to be further away and nearer the toilets!

If you are visiting Leucate because of the windsurfing be sure to visit the shop called ‘Chinnock’ by the supermarket car park for all your windsurf gear and tips. With an abundance of stock, they will definitely have what you need.  'Business is on the up', the owner told us not long ago - the recession certainly hasn’t hit windsurfing here yet.

Attractions nearby

Before leaving Leucate be sure to visit the pretty villages of Peyriac-de-Mer and Bages, both of which are situated next to a huge lagoon inhabited by flamingoes.  There are also some lovely coastal walks to be had from here and I am told that there is a supremely good restaurant in Bages itself.

See Languedoc-Roussillon and Aude (the region and department for Leucate) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Leucate, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Perpignan 26km; Fontfroide Abbey 26km; Narbonne 30km; Saint Cyprien - Pyrenees Orientales 33km; Elne 35km; Lagrasse 39km; Argeles-sur-Mer 41km; Castelnou 42km; Ille sur Tet 43km; Collioure 43km; Port Vendres 44km;

Leucate tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (Cabestany) - religious monument (26km) : Abbaye de Fontfroide (Narbonne) - religious monument (26km) : Narbonnaise en Méditerranée - regional natural parc (27km) : Eglise de Saint Michel (Saint-Genis-des-fontaines) - religious monument (42km) : Chapelle de Casenoves (Ille-sur-tet) - religious monument (43km) : Eglise de Trinité d'Aregno (Aregno) - religious monument (43km) : Orgued d'Ille-sur-Tet - site of natural beauty (43km) : Gorges de Galamus - site of natural beauty (45km) :

See more places and a map at places near Leucate