France : Relaxing Weekend in Canet-en-Roussillon

Let’s Dream of Escape 

Hi everyone! I put this old article about Canet-en-Roussillon back on the front page, because I need and believe you too, we need to dream at this beginning of spring 2021! We need sunshine and be inspired by beautiful pictures. Direction the south south of France.

Welcome To Occitanie!

What to do during a 3-day weekend? First, disconnect, take the time, enjoy smiling people! As soon as we arrive, we lunch facing the beach and the Mediterranean at the spa restaurant of the Les Flamants Roses hôtel. The light is blinding, super blue sky; it is hot, very hot;. In the afternoon, we follow with a refreshing sailboat ride on “la mer qu’on voit danser / the sea that we see dancing” (Charles Trenet, for the next generations, lol!). Contemplative mood and mild euphoria. In the evening, dinner of Occitan specialties in a restaurant with a very nice plant setting (photomontage of Day 1 below).

Day 2 : the day before, I accepted the challenge of cycling for sixty kilometers from Canet-en-Rousssillon, escorted by a very athletic friend and two other experienced cyclists as guides. Needless to say, I’m the only one on an electric bike? Departure at dawn: we cross beautifull landscapes, including the pond of Canet-en-Roussillon and its picturesque fishermen’s huts, vineyards, a lake and a few villages. The day is also dedicated to the Occitan gastronomy with a lunch and dinner in two excellent restaurants: the Bouchon Catalan and the Vigatane. A delight! At the end of the afternoon, we join the guided tour on the theme of the history of the village of Canet-en-Rousssillon.

Day 3 : we spend a long time at the really cool beach club La Cala, where we have lunch under the canisses. Canisses are a kind of roof made by wicker, bamboo or reed stick together to protect you from the sun. They represent the south for me! The decor and the atmosphere are very nice. Around 2 p.m., we go to Perpignan for a two-hour express visit. I really liked the Hyacinthe Rigaud Art Museum in a beautiful mansion, with a beautiful collection of Catalan gothic art, but also baroque and modern art paintings, and Maillol sculptures in the shady small garden. At the end of the afternoon, return to the superb lake of Canet-en-Roussillon with a member of the coastal conservation team who made us aware of the bio-diversity of the site.

                                Enjoy the travel's pictures below !

Jour 1 : Breathing, Sun & Sea

Day 2 : Bike, Gastronomy & Culture

Day 3 : Beach, Nature & Art

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Office du tourisme de Canet en Roussillon

Autres articles : Destinations

Many thanks to the Canet-en-Roussillon Tourism Board for the beautiful invitation. As always, theses are my opinions.

Week-end détente à Canet-en-Roussillon, France

Rêvons d’évasion

Bonjour à tous! Je remets à la une cet ancien article sur Canet-en-Roussillon, car j'ai besoin et je crois, vous aussi, nous avons besoin de rêver, d'inspiration, de belles images et de soleil en ce début de printemps 2021. Direction le sud sud de la France. 

Bienvenue en Occitanie!

Que faire lors d’un week-end de 3 jours? D’abord, déconnecter, prendre le temps. Dès notre arrivée, nous déjeunons face à plage et la Méditerranée au restaurant de la thalasso de l’hôtel Les Flamants Roses. La luminosité est aveuglante, le ciel ultra bleu ; il faut chaud, très… Les gens sont souriants. Dans l’après-midi, nous enchaînons par un rafraîchissant tour en voilier sur “la mer qu’on voit danser” (Charles Trenet, pour les générations futures, lol!). L’humeur est contemplative, légère euphorie. Le soir : dîner de spécialités occitanes, dans un restaurant avec un très chouette cadre végétal (voir premier photomontage ci-dessous).

Jour 2 : la veille, j’ai accepté le challenge d’une soixantaine de kilomètres à bicyclette depuis Canet-en-Rousssillon, escortée d’un ami très sportif et de deux autres cyclistes émérites comme guides. Inutile de préciser que je suis la seule en vélo électrique? Départ aux aurores : nous traversons de superbes paysages, dont l’étang et ses pittoresques cabanes de pêcheurs, des vignes, un lac et quelques villages. La journée est aussi placée sous le signe de la gastronomie occitane dans deux excellents restaurants : le Bouchon Catalan et le Vigatane. Un délice! En fin d’après-midi, nous participons à une visite guidée sur le thème de l’histoire du village de Canet-en-Rousssillon.

Jour 3 : nous passons un long moment au très agréable club de plage La Cala, où nous déjeunons sous les canisses. Ah les canisses, c’est le sud pour moi! La déco et l’ambiance sont très sympa. En début d’après-midi, nous partons à Perpignan pour une découverte expresse de deux heures. J’ai beaucoup aimé le Musée d’art Hyacinthe Rigaud dans un élégant hôtel particulier, avec une belle collection d’art gothique catalan, mais aussi des peintures d’arts baroque et moderne, et des sculptures de Maillol dans le petit jardin ombragé. En fin d’après-midi, de retour au superbe étang de Canet-en-Roussillon, accompagnés d’un garde-animateur de la Communauté Urbaine de Perpignan qui nous a sensibilisé à la bio diversité du site.

                                  Le voyage en images ci-dessous

Jour 1 : la pause entre soleil & mer

Jour 2 : vélo, gastronomie & culture

Jour 3 : plage, nature & musée à Perpignan

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Office du tourisme de Canet en Roussillon

Autres articles : Destinations

Un grand merci à l’Office du tourisme de Canet-en-Roussillon pour cette superbe invitation. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Three Weekends in Holland: Amsterdam & Limburg (Part 2)

Limbourg Chic & Nature

The Hotel : Winselerhof in Landgraaf

Surrounded by vineyards, this elegant hotel set in an old farmhouse is a haven of peace. We had lunch in the lovely interior courtyard bathed in sunshine (photo above, 5). Tasty refined cuisine with Mediterranean accents (3 & 4). The breakfast is also varied and plentiful.

We are happy to get in our spacious comfortable suite (1 & 2), after a long (sporty) walk in the nearby forest (6: no, it is not the silhouette of a real wolf, but a sculpture). When we left the Winselerhof, we felt very relaxed and invigorated.

What To Do

Visiting Valkenburg & Maastricht

Direction Valkenburg aan de Geul, a picturesque medieval village (photos 2, 3 & 4 above). What a surprise when we arrived, the village was crowed by tourists! It is really touristy. To avoid the bulk of the crowd, move away from the center of the village.

Another option: driving to Maastricht, a charming little town with countless cafes whose summer and winter I never tire of (1). In the evening, we dine in Herleen at the Brasserie Mijn Streek, located on the top floors of the SCHUNCK museum (5 & 6). A nice view, really good food and friendly team. 

Arty Amsterdam

The Hotel : Conservatorium Hotel

For this new weekend in Amsterdame, we focused about contemporary art. The Conservatorium Hotel, a former music conservatory, is located in the museum district of Amsterdam. I did not know this lovely neighborhood.

As soon as we enter the imposing lobby (photos below 4 & 5), we are projected into a large space mixing cutting-edge design, massive architecture and lots of art. The hotel has a number of works of art as well as renowned restaurants. The reception and restaurant teams are  friendly and professional.

But the best is our large Rooftop Suite with a sleek minimalist design (photo above and photos below 1 & 2). Superb bathroom (3). A cocoon of luxury and good taste. I forgot, the breakfast in the Brasserie and Lounge is simply delicious. 

What To Do

Amsterdam Art Weekend

There are a thousand ways to visit Amsterdam. We decided to go there, during the Amsterdam Art Weekend  (the next session is scheduled from April 15 to 17, 2021). s 2021). We started our art walk by visiting of the artists’ studios in residence at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten  (1).

Then we spent the rest of the day in different private art galleries. And in the evening, we were at an exhibition opening in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the huge museum of contemporary art (2). After the event, what a treat to quickly be able to walk back to our hotel! 

The next day: long stop at the PAN Amsterdam,, the most important art and antiques fair in the Netherlands. Where among a thousand discoveries (it’s a real Alibaba cave), I really liked the sculptures of Vladimir Zbynovsky at the Etienne Gallery (3). In the afternoon: we went to the Moco Museum where I really enjoyed the works of Daniel Arsham (4). 

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

I Amsterdam

Related articles : Destinations & Hotel Review

Many thanks to Visit Holland and I Amsterdam, for this beautiful invitation. Also many thanks to the Winselerhof Landgraaf and Conservatorium Hotel and the restaurants mentioned in the article. As always, theses are my opinions.