Best things to do in Perpignan

Perpignan Must-Sees

Perpignan served as the continental capital of the Kingdom of Majorca during the 13th and 14th centuries, a legacy preserved in the fortified Palace of the Kings of Majorca. The city's Mediterranean Gothic architecture is visible in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral and the Loge de Mer, while the 14th-century Castillet gate marks the historic entrance to the old town. From the ornate Art Nouveau interiors of Hôtel Pams to medieval cloister-cemeteries, these sites reflect a unique blend of French and Catalan history.

Perpignan Must-Sees — Map

kikiarg / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Palace of the Kings of Majorca

The Palace of the Kings of Majorca, is a palace and a fortress with gardens overlooking the city of Perpignan in Pyrenees-Orientales,…

Christophe Marcheux / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Castillet

What once used to be a tower guarding the entrance to the city, now houses a museum of popular arts.

Palauenc05 / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Perpignan Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, located in the town of Perpignan…

Palauenc05 / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Église Saint-Mathieu

A 17th-century Catholic church featuring notable Baroque altarpieces and a history linked to the city's royal and military past.

E

Castillet

An Art Nouveau cinema dating back to 1911, featuring a distinctive Belle Époque facade and historic screening rooms.

Enfo / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Hôtel Pams

The Hôtel Pams is a mansion in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France.

Furmeyer / Public domain

G

Ancienne université de Perpignan

Neoclassical building constructed in the 1760s to house the city's university until the French Revolution.

H

Campo Santo

A large medieval cloister-cemetery featuring Gothic funerary alcoves, now used as an open-air cultural venue.

Adrien Dauzats, 1834 / Public domain

I

Casa Xanxo

A 16th-century merchant's house featuring a Gothic facade and a detailed stone frieze depicting the seven deadly sins.

Vinckie / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Église Saint-Jacques

13th-century church located in the historic Saint-Jacques quarter, serving as the starting point for the annual Procession de la Sanch.

Doronenko / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

Église Notre-Dame de la Réal

A 14th-century Gothic church that historically served as the parish for the royal court of the Palace of the Kings of Majorca.

Enfo / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Hôtel de Ville

The city hall features a traditional Roussillon facade of pebbles and bricks, with a 16th-century courtyard housing Aristide Maillol’s bronze statue, 'La Méditerranée'.

M

Loge de Mer

A 14th-century Gothic building that once housed the city’s maritime consulate and commercial exchange, characterized by ornate stonework.

Other Lists

Perpignan Heritage Trail Art & Culture in Perpignan Historic Religious Sites City Parks and Gardens