Collioure
Collioure, France
A small Catalan port where a royal castle and a church with a bell tower on the old lighthouse stand right by the water. Painted fishing boats, anchovies and colourful lanes explain why artists settled here.
Collioure lies on the Côte Vermeille in the Pyrénées-Orientales département and has around 2,800 inhabitants. The settlement is mentioned as early as 673 as "Castrum Caucoliberi". After the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 it passed to France, and the military engineer Vauban then strengthened its defences, including the Château Royal and Fort Saint-Elme. The church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges is housed in a former lighthouse, and its tower dominates the harbour.
In the early 20th century the town became a centre of Fauvism; Henri Matisse and André Derain painted here in the summer of 1905. Ninety-eight reproductions of their paintings are displayed in the town, in the places where the originals were painted. Collioure is also known for its anchovies and for the wines of the Collioure and Banyuls appellations. Allow a few hours for a walk around the harbour, the castle and the lanes, and if possible come outside the high season.
- Nearest town
- Collioure, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 42.5252, 3.0831
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Aire Argelès, Aire du SoleilMotorhome stopover7 km from Collioure · 21 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping Le DauphinCampsite7 km from CollioureTentsCaravansMotorhomesShowersToiletsDogs allowed
- Camping Le RanchoCampsite8 km from CollioureTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Le HarasCampsite11 km from CollioureTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- La Colomine del MarMotorhome stopover15 km from Collioure · 36 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Càmping Sant MiquelCampsite15 km from CollioureTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterShowersWaste disposal
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Collioure?
Collioure is in Collioure, France, at GPS 42.5252, 3.0831. It is about 6 km from Banyuls-sur-Mer.
Can you camp near Collioure?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Les Amandiers, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 127 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Collioure?
Places worth a stop nearby: Cap de Creus (30 km), Dalí Theatre-Museum (30 km), Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt (42 km) and Empúries (44 km).
When is the best time to visit Collioure?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)