Top 10 things to do in Thuir

1- Guided tour of Thuir

Follow the guide as you wander through the Aspres capital to discover its many secrets. The Porte de Perpignan is the main entrance to the old fortified city; destroyed in 1886, it was rebuilt for the year 2000. Place Gabriel Péri, formerly Place Royale, opens onto the shopping streets. In the center, the fountain was built in 1777 to supply the entire village with drinking water. In one of the two towers, on the Town Hall Square, spot the cannonball embedded in the stones. It belonged to the artillery of the Spanish General Ricardos, who occupied the city in 1793.

2- The Byrrh cellars

This is a must-see in Thuir! In 1827, two brothers, Simon and Pallade Viollet, created a winery to produce a naturally sweet wine called Byrrh. The cellar quickly expanded. The name "Byrrh" comes from the fabrics the two brothers sold; these fabrics were referenced under a five-letter code. The code for the last fabric received was BYRRH! It became the code for a brand known worldwide. The cellars house the largest oak barrel vat in the world. In a few figures: it weighs 100 tons when empty, measures 10 meters high, and has a diameter of 12.5 m! The framework of the central hall was created by Gustave Eiffel's workshops.

Several types of visits allow you to tour the cellars: self-guided discovery tour, guided discovery tour and for an original discovery of this emblematic place, the sound and light tour or the dramatized tour which allows you to discover the Byrrh cellars and the know-how with actors in period costume who will take you from the creation of the recipe to the development of the industrial empire.

Prices:

• Free discovery: adult: 5.50 euros. Child from 8 years old: 2.50 euros;
• Guided discovery: adult: 7 euros; child from 8 years old: 3.50 euros;
• Sound and light: adult: 8 euros; child: 4 euros;
• Themed visit: adult: 10 euros; child: 5 euros;
• Free for children under 8.

3- Parish Church of Our Lady of Victory

Built in the 18th century with remains of the old Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Peter, the Church of Our Lady of Victory bears a 13th-century inscription. It houses a Virgin and Child from the end of the 13th century which has the particularity of being made of lead, which makes it a Black Madonna. You can also admire the great organ from 1864, the baptismal font from the 13th century, the altarpiece of the high altar... It is located in the heart of the city center, in the very first circle of houses which forms the first fortified belt of the city.

4- Park and Villa of Palauda

The villa has long belonged to the Violet family of the Byrrh cellars. Situated in the center of a superb garden, it was built during the 19th century. It is a place that is closely linked to the Byrrh cellars located right next door. The 10-hectare park is home to ponds, numerous plant species, sculptures, a grotto, a greenhouse, and more. You can also admire a magnificent Ginkgo Biloba, a "forty-euro tree" with its small yellow leaves (in autumn) without a central vein.

The park is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

5- The Museum of Nature and Hunting

This free museum is a great opportunity to learn more about the animals of the Pyrenees through reconstructed scenes, slideshows and a sound world.

6- Museum of Arts and Traditions

This museum recreates life in Thuir and the Aspres region at the beginning of the 20th century. You'll learn about traditional housing, furniture, and period clothing, all presented in a very attractive manner. The museum is housed in a former 18th-century coaching inn and a former watchtower. Created in 1994, it provides a very informative reconstruction of traditional Catalan housing. On the ground floor is an exhibition room featuring local artists. Admission is free.

7- The Chapel of the Pieta

This is a tiny chapel that welcomes you at the entrance to Thuir when you arrive from Perpignan. Built in the 15th century, its construction required quite elaborate techniques. It was erected with river pebbles while the buttresses are made of blue marble, most likely from the Thuir quarry a few kilometers to the south.

8- Arts and crafts

Thuir is home to numerous artisan workshops. Atelier S will introduce you to sculptures, engravings, and glass decorations. Thierry Moingeon presents his sculptures and unique pieces in stone or marble. Head to Bois et Tradition for fine cabinetmaking or the Jean Paulignan jewelry store and its Perpignan garnet jewelry.

9- Near Thuir, the exotic gardens of Ponteilla

In the village of the same name, the exotic gardens of Ponteilla welcome you over three hectares with a shaded trail to discover 1,400 plants from five continents. Information panels allow you to learn more, but it is possible to enjoy a guided tour or take the sensory trail, a barefoot path and a scent trail to take your senses on a journey. Treasure hunts are organized for families; you can play on the giant chessboard, play a game of giant table football, participate in an escape game or even have water fights.

Prices:

• Park with visit, treasure hunt, barefoot trail: adult: 9 euros; child 4-11 years: 7 euros;
• Outdoor Escape Game: adult: 9 euros; child 4-11 years: 7 euros;
• Water Tag: 15 minutes: 4.5 euros; 30 minutes: 7 euros.

10- Nearby: Castelnou Castle

Castelnou, a medieval village, is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Dominated by the castle, it offers a journey through time. Step through the monumental gate and admire the old stones, the flower-lined streets, the 10th-century castle, the numerous craft shops, and more. The castle is still surrounded by crenellated ramparts over three meters thick. Its walls encompass part of the mountain. It is open daily and admission is free.