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There are lots of committed producers of high quality and organic food and drink. Look out for the words artisanale and biologique at shops, markets and roadside stalls. Many small holdings and vineyards welcome visitors.
American religious writer and poet Thomas Merton was born in Prades and the town is on the Camino de Santiago.
20 minutes walk from the house is the working abbey of St-Michel de Cuixa. It has a 10th century belltower, 12th century cloister and a lovely iris garden.
There are many religous sites nearby worth a visit, including St-Martin de Canigou, perched halfway up the mountain, Serrabone priory and gardens, Elne cathedral, Arles-sur-Tech abbey, Marcevol Priory and the tiny, ornate church at Corneilla-de-Conflent.
The annual Pablo Casals music festival is held in venues around Prades and his museum is open all year round. It is followed by two weeks of Catalan fetes.
There are interesting art galleries at Ceret and Colluire. They focus on the artists associated with the towns-Chagall,
Picasso & Matisse. The Dali museum at Figueres in Northern Spain makes a good day-trip.
There are museums of pre-historic man at Belesta and Tautavel. Other museums cover various crafts, terroire, military and social history.
A 5 minute drive from Prades is Villefranche-de-Conflent a fully preserved walled town, dominated by Fort Liberia, designed by Vaubin.
Castelnou, a mediaeval fortified chateau and charming village, is 25 km away. In the region is Fort de Salses, Fort Lagarde, and Le Castillet in Perpignan. Also in Perpignan is the Palais des Rois de Majorque both with excellent views.
Pretty towns and villages nearby include Estoher, Ille-sut-Tet, Vernet-les-Bains (a favourite with Kipling) and Ceret.
