Galerie d'Art Contemporain

Collioure is a small port on the Côte Vermeille, the coast of the eastern Pyrenees where the mountains drop into the Mediterranean, and for over a century it has been a place for painters. Its fame in art history began in the summer of 1905, when Henri Matisse and André Derain worked here side by side and painted the bright, unblended colours that earned them and their friends the name of the Fauves, the wild beasts. Their canvases of the harbour, the boats, the hillside vineyards and the pink bell tower were shown at the Salon d'Automne in Paris that autumn, and the movement of Fauvism was born. Picasso, Braque, Dufy and many others followed them to the village in the years afterwards, drawn by the light and the colour of the place.

Today the village keeps that tradition alive. Small galleries and studios are scattered through its lanes, especially in the old quarters of the Mouré, on the side of the Château Royal, and the Port d'Avall, near the harbour. They present the work of local and visiting painters, sculptors and ceramicists, in many styles, from figurative landscapes and seascapes to abstract works and contemporary sculpture. Because the streets are narrow and the galleries open straight onto them, the whole quarter feels like an open-air museum, and many artists work in view of passers-by, so you may see a painter at an easel or a sculptor in a workshop. Entry to the galleries is free, and they are generally open during the day, with some closing for a long lunch, and many stay open into the evening in summer. Opening days vary, as most are small private businesses, and the tourist office provides maps and brochures that list the galleries and workshops.

The village rewards a leisurely walk. The Château Royal, a medieval fortress that once belonged to the kings of Majorca and later of France, stands beside the harbour, and the church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, with its striking pink bell tower that was once a lighthouse, rises right at the water's edge. The fishing port, with its little beach and the colourful boats, is a favourite subject for painters, and Collioure's anchovies, salted by hand, and its sweet and dry wines from the terraced vineyards are local specialities. A marked path, the Chemin du Fauvisme, leads through the village and shows reproductions of the Fauve paintings in the places where they were painted, so you can compare the scene with the canvas. The Musée d'Art Moderne in the Rue de la Prud'homie is currently closed, so check before planning a visit.

Summer is busy, and the lanes fill with visitors, so early morning and the evening give the best experience. The galleries suit art lovers, photographers and anyone who enjoys a creative atmosphere by the sea.