The Romanesque cathedral of Elne dates back to the 11th century and is visible from the sea or from inland. The cloister of Elne is built from grey marble veined with blue.
Culture
The capitals of the cloister range from Romanesque to Gothic forms and depict plant, animal and religious motifs. The Maternité Suisse d’Elne has been classified as a “Monument historique” since 2013. The Maternité d’Elne opened in December 1939; almost 600 children from around ten different nationalities were born there.
The upper floor of the Musée Étienne Terrus is dedicated to Étienne Terrus (1857–1922), who was born in Elne and is regarded as a master of watercolour painting. The Musée Étienne Terrus also presents the exhibition “Naissance d’un évêché”, featuring recently discovered ancient sarcophagi.
History
Elne’s historic townscape includes a fortified enclosure, towers, town gates and a historic quarter. The Maternité Suisse d’Elne was closed in January 2026 for work to secure the building and its surroundings, for a period of one and a half years.
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Nature
Bocal du Tech beach is located in the municipality of Elne, stretches for approximately 700 metres and consists of fine sand with gravel along the edges. The beach is divided into a textile area and a naturist area.
The Mas Larrieu National Nature Reserve covers 145 hectares between Elne and Argelès-sur-Mer. It includes dunes, wild beaches, reed beds, marshland and alluvial forests.
Activities
The “A deux roues dans les vignes” cycle route begins in ancient Elne and leads through vineyards and country roads. “Entre Ciel et Terre – Véronique Puig” offers a workshop for making ceramics and pottery, as well as a boutique in the Jardin des métiers d’art.
Geographical location
From the tourist information office in Elne, the route to Bocal du Tech beach follows Rue du Couvent, Rue du Salita and Avenue Charles de Gaulle; after a small hamlet, it continues for approximately 1 kilometre along Chemin de la mer.
Other places: La Sacristie, Alenya, Argeles-Sur-Mer, Reynes, Saint-Paul-De-Fenouillet, Salses-Le-Château, Brouilla, Passa.
