Elne, Languedoc-Roussillon guide de voyage

Visitez Elne: gites : hotels : location des voitures | Decouvrir Languedoc

Elne is found 4 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean on the Tech River 12km from Perpignan.

Elne sits in a raised position, on the narrow strip of lowland that separates the Mediterranean from the foothills of the eastern Pyrenees, with the mountains forming a suitably dramatic backdrop. It has an interesting and long history that includes Hannibal and his elephants stopping there for a while en-route for Italy in the 3rd century BC.

Elne Cathedral and cloister will be the highlight of your visit - the Cathedral Sainte-Eulalie-et-Sainte-Julie was completed in the 11th century, although the cloister was added some three hundred years later. During the barbaric Aragon Crusade the town was besieged and many people took refuge inside the cathedral - as a consequence so the cathedral was set on fire and all the people were slaughtered.

The last 400 years have been rather quieter for Elne, and there is still a great deal to interest visitors to the town, including some important archaeological remains.

Market day especially bears witness to Elne's current role as an agricultural region, with vineyards and orchards especially important.

The local Butterfly Farm, set in a tropical garden, is said to be very pleasant.

Elne: tourisme, carte, guide de voyage et gites