Mount Canigou
Mount Canigou is visible from many places in the southern Languedoc-Roussillon.
Mount Canigou, 2784m high, is found about 10km south of Prades as the crow-flies but is visible from much of the region.
It is, for the locals, more than just a mountain - it is also considered to be the spiritual home of Catalan, and Catalans from across both the French Catalan and Spanish Catalonia regions gather here for the summer solstice.
As a mountain, it is a reasonably straightforward hike, achievable by anyone in good health with general hiking ability, sturdy boots and a couple of bottles of water. For the more energetic there is an annual race, 33km long, that passes across Canigou! Not surprisingly, the views from the summit on a clear day are extraordinary and stretch a very long distance in all directions.
To approach the mountain, start from either Prades or Vernet-les-Bains. The ascent on foot starts from near the chalet des Cortalets. It is best to make the ascent in summer, leaving early to avoid the heat and to have a greater chance of solitude on the mountain.
One highlight near Mount Canigou is the Abbey Saint Martin at Sint-Martin-du-Canigou, perched high on a rocky peak at the base of the mountain. Access to the abbey is via a 30 minute walk from the D116 (take the road from Vernet-les-Bains). A lovely, tranquil spot.
Note: the first ascent of Canigou took place in 1285, by the King of Aragon. He reported that at the summet he had thrown a stone in a lake, and a vast dragon emerged from the water, and flew into the sky blotting out the light.
Visit Mount Canigou (Languedoc-Roussillon, Pyrenees-Orientales) travel, gites and hotels
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The Mount Canigou hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Mount Canigou is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Languedoc-Roussillon gites for Mount Canigou holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Languedoc-Roussillon Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Places to Stay near Mount Canigou VisitSee Visit Mount Canigou for places to visit near Mount Canigou including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Mount Canigou in our Languedoc-Roussillon forum Airports near Mount CanigouCarcassonne airport at 78 km Perpignan airport at 52 km Mount Canigou property for saleSee Languedoc-Roussillon property for sale
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Places to visit near Mount Canigou, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Mount Canigou.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
29 km: Castelnou (Most beautiful village) 14 km: Eus (Most beautiful village) 21 km: Gorges de la Fou (Dramatic gorge) 12 km: Prades (Recommended stopover town) 13 km: Villefranche-de-Conflent (Most beautiful village)
See also Mount Canigou (version Francais)
