It goes without saying that in this year (2022) it has been a long and hot summer. So when we decided to take a day out to find somewhere for a nice picnic lunch, one of the main criteria was that it would be good to go somewhere that may be a little cooler than we had recently been experiencing. So no better idea than to head into the mountains and look for some amazing views and a nice cooling breeze, ideally in a spot that afforded a little bit of shade.
After a quick search on the Internet we found a recommendation that said an ideal picnic spot was the conjurador at Serralongue close to the Spanish border with France. Not only that, but only around 10 to 15 minutes further on from Serralongue you would find yourself in the little village of Lamenere, reported to be the southern most village in France. Now that’s not a bad box to tick either.
Lamanère
This is the village that is at the southern most point in France. A Catalan village that is very popular with cyclists, ramblers and runners. All the activities you would expect to find in a remote country location in the Pyrenees-Orientales. What’s not to like really, amazing views of mountainous countryside, quiet roads and lots of fresh air, a veritable magnet for the outdoorsy types.
I have to say we visited in our little sportscar, no physical activity for me in the heat of the summer. But I have got a dodgy knee, at least that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it.
Definitely a few clues that you might be in Catalan country at this water hole, it’s sort of flagged up in a few places.
Now that great place for a picnic – Serralongue Conjurador
Located right next to the church in Serralongue, it’s a perfect place to head to for a picnic with views, shade and a wow factor.
It’s pretty easy to find when you arrive in Serralongue because you can park in the church car park after following the signs from the D44, in fact you can see the church from the main road through the village, and the conjurador is no more than a 50m walk up some stone steps. There are benches available, one inside and one on the north face in the shade. We took our camping chairs and tables so we could choose exactly where we wanted to sit. But as it happened we were more than happy using the bench with just a couple of our chairs and tables. A perfect spot looking directly at Canigou.
East, North & West facing views from the Conjurador
The South Facing View and the Entrance to the Conjurador
So you can see via the south facing view how close the actual church is to the conjurador, literally a stone’s throw away. So parking there and carrying a few bits and pieces for your picnic really shouldn’t be too onerous. We had fabulous views a lovely picnic and a gentle cooling breeze so we weren’t all sitting in puddles of our own sweat. You could call it a refreshing change, if you will excuse the pun and the bluntness of that statement.
The Medieval Museum
We didn’t visit the medieval museum, which may be our loss, but it is worth mentioning as it seems to be quite an interesting place to visit. They exhibit animated models representing the traditional activities of Haut-Vallespir:
- the Catalan forges
- the flour mill
- the olive oil mill
- foresters
- charcoal grinders
- the fullers
Not to mention the representations of constructions of signal towers and local dwellings. Oh well, maybe next time!