Plage du Racou

Plage du Racou is the southern end of the long sandy shore of Argelès-sur-Mer in the Pyrénées-Orientales, where the sand meets the first rocks of the Côte Vermeille. Le Racou is a former fishing hamlet with a village feel, about 600 m south of Port-Argelès, and it suits visitors who want a calmer beach than central Argelès, snorkelling and the coastal walk to Collioure.

Schist coves at the start of the Côte Vermeille

Beyond the beach the coast turns rocky: coves and schist cliffs mark the first foothills of the Albères and the Côte Vermeille, and the shoreline is a protected site, with land owned by the Conservatoire du littoral and waters inside the Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion. The rocky southern end is good for snorkelling, and water shoes help there.

5.3 km of rocky path to Collioure

The sentier du littoral starts at Le Racou and follows yellow waymarks south over the rocky shore toward Collioure; Visorando puts the Collioure harbour lighthouse about 5.3 km from the Racou car park. Some sections have no waymarks. The path climbs and drops over rocky sections, so wear good shoes and carry water, as there is no water point on the way. Check before setting out that the path is open. Collioure has plenty of cafés for the end of the walk.

Collioure's royal castle and Port-Vendres

The harbour town of Collioure, with its royal castle on the water's edge about 2.5 km from Le Racou, lies to the south-east, and Port-Vendres about 4.5 km beyond. Perpignan is about 25 km north.

Spanish refugees held on the sand in 1939

Argelès also has a darker history. In February 1939, after the fall of Catalonia in the Spanish Civil War, close to 100,000 Spanish refugees reached an internment camp set up on the beaches of Argelès within a few days, and they were held directly on the sand. A memorial in the town tells their story.