#cotlliure

Cotlliure, Northern Catalonia.

Cotlliure, Northern Catalonia.

The tower was originally built in the Middle Ages as part of the defensive city walls. It was later turned into a lighthouse, and since the 18th century it serves as the bell tower for the 17th-century church of Santa Maria dels Àngels.

Behind, there’s the Royal Castle. The first documented reference to this castle dates back to the year 673, but it was completely rebuilt between 1242 and 1280. It was later partially rebuilt in the 17th century following the orders of the famous military engineer Vauban, who adapted the fortification to the needs of 17th century war.

Did you know that Cotlliure (Northern Catalonia) did a cameo in the show House of the Dragon?

This picture is a still from the show, and at the back you can see the bell tower of Santa Maria dels Àngels.

Here's two photos of what Cotlliure looks like in real life:

De Salses a Guardamar i de Fraga a l’Alguer: les comarques de parla catalana una a una. 1/88: el Rosselló (Northern Catalonia).

Rosselló is the shire situated at the North-East extreme of Northern Catalonia. The Northernmost town in the Catalan Countries, Salses, is here.

Its capital city is Perpinyà. Another important city is the coastal Cotlliure, which served as an inspiration to many artists including Matisse, Derain, Chagall, Picasso, Dalí, or Dufy, among others, and was often painted by them. It’s also the birthplace of the sculptor Aristides Maillol.

To all of these artists who looked for the light of Rosselló and found inspiration there, we should also add the many artists and intellectuals from Southern Catalonia who went on exile to Rosselló escaping persecution after the fascists’ victory in the Spanish Civil War.

Another well-known town is Elna, known for its Maternity which helped pregnant refugees who were escaping the fascist dictatorship of Spain and who the French government had locked in the Argelers refugee camp.

Cotlliure (Northern Catalonia) when the sun goes down.

Cotlliure, Northern Catalonia.

Cotlliure, Northern Catalonia.