40 miles or 40 minutes away from Carcassonne, and you can dip your toes into the Mediterranean! 

The Cote Vermeil (or the Ruby Coast) is the extension of the Costa Brava in Spain. The area has always been a haven for artists – the birthplace of Fauvism, where early in the last century the likes of Matisse, Dufy, Gris and Picasso, amongst others, excelled in their art, mostly in Collioure, which is renowned for its light. 

This lovely and quaint fishing village dates back to Roman days, and can be reached by car from the Hotel de la Cite in approximately one hour. From there, you can cross over to Spain – now also in Euroland.