Banyuls-sur-Mer is a coastal resort and beach set around a natural bay and port. It is situated on the Mediterranean coast in Languedoc-Roussillon, just north of the border with Spain. The coast here is known as the Cote Vermeille.
Explore Banyuls-sur-Mer
A quiet town, Banyuls has little in the way of major sights but it is a pleasant place to stop and explore or have a quick dip in the sea from the town beach and is also a popular base for visitors to the region who want to combine a beach resort with the chance to explore the eastern Pyrenees.
The beach in Banyuls-sur-Mer has received the prestigious 'pavillon bleu' award for its cleanliness and facilities. The beach is within a natural bay in front of the town and is a mix of sand and pebbles.
Along the seafront behind the beach you will find plenty of bars and restaurants and after enjoying dinner in a seafront restaurant be sure to take an evening stroll along the sea front.
For a more quiet area of coast and small beaches you can follow the coast path for a short distance to reach the natural environment of the crique Taillelauque and the crique Tancade.
Back in town and away from the beach, the most interesting part of Banyuls is in the narrow streets of the Cap d'Osne region. These wind steeply uphill and the tourist office has laid out a route through these attractive narrow streets.
The Eglise de la Rectory is the most interesting historic monument in the town: it is a small quaint church in the roman style that was built in the 12th century.
Set above the town you can visit a large mediterranean garden, the Jardin Mediterranean du Mas de la Serre, which is a three hectare park filled with plants from Mediterranean type climates around the world. Banyuls also has an aquarium on the seafront filled with plants and fish found in the waters nearby.
Banyuls is well known for the local wine production, and there are several caves where you can do wine-tasting - the most popular are La Grande Cave and La Cave du Mas Reig.
Aristide Malliol
As you explore the town you will notice some interesting statues by local artist Aristide Malliol, born here in 1861. When looking at the statues (such as the 'young lady reclining' near the port) remember that these statues predate, and influenced, later artists such as Henry Moore.
The house where Malliol died is in Banyuls, and now a museum dedicated to his life and works, including paintings, ceramics and sculptures.
The coast and region around Banyuls-sur-Mer
There are several places along the coast nearby where you will find impressive viewpoints over the rocky coastline, including the Cap l'Abeille and Cap Rederis. Another good detour is to take the road from Banyuls to the Tower Madeloc, built in the 13th century and with some of the best, most far-reaching, views in the region.
The Col de Banyuls, on the border between France and Spain, also has some lovely dramatic scenery.
See more of the popular Languedoc beaches and resorts
See more seaside resorts in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Pyrenees-Orientales guide and the Languedoc-Roussillon guide.
Photos of Banyuls-sur-Mer
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Map of Banyuls-sur-Mer and places nearby
Visit near Banyuls-sur-Mer with France This Way reviews
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Address: Banyuls-sur-Mer, Côte Vermeille, Céret, Languedoc-Roussillon, 66650, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 42.483, longitude 3.128
Plan your visit to Banyuls-sur-Mer, Pyrenees-Orientales
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Paulilles: site of natural beauty (2 km)
- Réserve naturelle nationale de Cerbère-Banyuls: site of natural beauty (3 km)
- Eglise de Saint Michel (Saint-Genis-des-fontaines): religious monument (18 km)
- Étang de Canet-Saint-Nazaire: site of natural beauty (23 km)
- Chapel Saint-Martin de Fenollar (Maureillas-las-Illas): religious monument (25 km)
- Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (Cabestany): religious monument (27 km)
- Perpignan: town of art and history (31 km)
- Pic de Fontfrède: site of natural beauty (31 km)
- Castelnou: most beautiful village (38 km)
- Étang de Leucate: site of natural beauty (42 km)
- Gorges de la Fou: site of natural beauty (43 km)
- Prieuré de Serrabone (Boule-d'Amont): religious monument (46 km)
Market days in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
Regular market(s) are held in Banyuls-sur-Mer each Thursday & Sunday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Banyuls-sur-Mer (Francais)