Chteau de Valmy

We loved the views from the walk up toward the sea and the Canigou mountains. The place is really pretty in spring and close to the sea. My kids loved it too, including my 2.5-year-old. The playground was good, though it didn’t have a swing 😭

The wines are especially well priced, with a good glass starting at, I think, €3. It’s a great place to stop for a drink and enjoy the amazing view, and the wine is great to try. The food is excellent and the setting is lovely. It isn’t cheap, but the prices aren’t unreasonable for what you get. Don’t miss the wine shop or the nice park up by the castle.

The grounds and shared rooms are stunning, the pools magnificent, and breakfast lovely. The staff were great too. We paid 220e a night for the 'cheapest' room, but the TV didn’t work, even though the staff kindly tried to fix it. The toilet and shower were raised up on a platform, with a transparent glass wall, yuk, and right beside the lift shaft.

We got there at 15.30 on a Saturday, hoping to enjoy a nice glass of wine, but a waiter turned us away rudely. He kept looking at our walking shoes as if they clearly weren’t appropriate. Go somewhere else if you want a drink without the attitude.