Prades, the capital of the Conflent, is situated at the foot of the Canigou, at the confluence of several rivers. This welcoming little town contains a marvellous artistic heritage. Its Church of St Peter (Saint-Pierre), dating from the 12th and 17th centuries, is a must-see site and well worth a visit. In fact its choir houses a splendid Baroque altarpiece dedicated to St Peter. Listed as an Historic Building, this remarkable work by the Catalonian sculptor Joseph Sunyer is the largest Baroque altar piece in France! Also to be admired is the church's treasure room, where there is a collection of relics, precious metal pieces and a statue of Our Lady of the Volta dating from the 14th century.
For those who love local produce, in the pretty square adjoining the church there is a producers' market every Saturday morning. Also there is a bigger market in Prades town centre on Tuesday mornings.
Created in 1950 by the celebrated Catalonian cellist Pablo Casals, the Pablo Casals Festival, which is entirely devoted to chamber music, takes place each summer in different ancient buildings in the Pyrénées-Orientales, such as the Church of Saint-Pierre de Prades, the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa, the Abbey of Saint-Martin du Canigou and the Church of Corneilla-de-Conflent. An unmissable event for anyone who loves classical music! And to learn more about the great Catalonian musician, go to the Pablo Casals Museum in Prades, where the career of the artist is brought to life through letters, photos, instruments, recordings and concert outfits.
Prades, in the heart of Conflent, at the upper limit of the Roussillon plain, leans to the south on the foothills of the Canigou, and extends on the north side over the alluvial basin of the Têt. At the foot of the mountainous area of the department.
Prades enjoys an exceptional panorama of the Pyrenees chain.
Prades is a place dear to the hearts of Catalans, for at least four reasons:
The founder of Catalonia, Count Guifred, had a castle in Conflent near Prades, and ended his life in Abbey of Saint-Martin du Canigou.
The Canigou is the sacred mountain of the Catalans and many people climb it every year starting from Prades.
Pompeu Fabra, a renowned grammarian, codified the Catalan language by producing a grammar and a dictionary which are still authoritative. He is buried in the cemetery of Prades.
Finally Pablo Casals, the famous cellist and creator of a music festival of the same name, lived for a very long time in the city of Prades. 2023 is the centenary of his death.
The culinary specialities, tasty and typical of the region, are not lacking in charm either, starting with cargolade (grilled snails on vine shoots), ouillade (traditional cabbage soup similar to hotpot), bunyete (Catalan donut, traditionally made at Easter, but found throughout the year) or the famous Catalan cream (based on egg yolks, citrus fruits, sugar and milk).
Important city in Catalan history, Prades has a rich and colorful heritage that reflect the architecture and traditions of the region. The main monument of the city remains the Church of St. Peter, in the old center. Some parts of the site date back to the twelfth century, and others in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. It is still possible to admire a Romanesque bell tower of Lombard style, currently under repair, and an altarpiece considered one of the largest in France. Baroque style, it was entirely made by the famous Catalan sculptor, Joseph Sunyer, at the very end of the 17th century. No less than fourteen chapels complete the ensemble. Real treasure, some of the furniture comes from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, jewel of the Romanesque art located not far from there.
The Pablo Casals Museum, dedicated to the famous Catalan cellist and composer. His visit allows to discover a beautiful collection of personal objects, and to get to know the artist. Concerts, handwritten letters, photos and even one of Pablo Casals' cellos are presented.
A pretty half-timbered house dating back to the 15th century, the Jacomet house, which was renovated in the late 90s, is classified as an historic monument, and has beautiful windows with a wooden cross with pinnacles.
The heart of the city welcomes, every Tuesday morning a large picturesque market attracting many people and every Saturday morning the market of local producers.
The Pablo Casals festival takes place every year in the heart of summer, from the last week of July to mid-August, following the film festival (Ciné-Rencontres).
Do not forget the Catalan Summer University, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.
Lively, the small town of Prades has no shortage of events to bring joy to the streets and alleys.
Every Tuesday morning, the center of the city is the scene of a large picturesque market which attracts many inhabitants of the Conflent region. A market of local producers, allowing you to discover the best of the gastronomy and crafts of Prades and the surrounding area also takes place every Saturday morning.
Guided tours of the Saint-Pierre church and its treasure are regularly organized by the Tourist Office. The opportunity to learn more about the history of this high heritage of Prades and to learn about Baroque and Romanesque architecture.
In summer, the Catalan Summer University, summer flea markets organized by the PO flea market group, and night markets every Friday in July and August from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Place de the Republic...
The "Ciné-Rencontres", in July, propose a cinematographic theme on an actor, a filmmaker, a director... During the festival, conferences and debates are organized where you can meet specialists and filmmakers. Information on +33 4 68 05 20 47.
The Pablo Casals festival, created by the famous cellist in 1950, takes place from the end of July to the beginning of August. It is an unmissable event that attracts 8,000 people each year, as well as artists from all over the world. The concerts are held in Saint-Michel de Cuxa, Saint-Pierre de Prades and around ten churches in the surrounding area. Musicological conferences and film screenings are also held at the lido (free of charge) every morning at 11 a.m. Information on +33 4 68 96 33 07.
The Catalan Summer University: in August. These are university meetings bringing together approximately 1,000 students and teachers each year at the Prades high school. It is a question of making known the literary or scientific works produced in Catalan language, but also, to make known to the Catalan speakers the important works published in other languages. It's about promoting the Catalan language and opening up to the world.
In August, a market of creators, artists and craftsmen from Conflent allows you to appreciate the most beautiful creations from this part of Catalonia.
In September, the horse festival takes place on the Saint Martin plain in Prades. For two days, free activities are offered, such as ethological riding courses, presentations of farms, amateur equestrian shows or even pony and driving baptisms.
An unmissable event at Prades, the fat fair takes place in November with around forty exhibitors, all farmers. It is thus possible to discover duck in all its forms, in dishes, foie gras or confit, as well as other poultry. Olive oils, seasonal fruits and local wines are also present.
The city and its surroundings have a particularly dense heritage as taking local resources (museums Pablo Casals and Martin Vives ...) than those of surrounding communities: the abbeys of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa and Saint-Martin-du -Canigou sites Eus and Villefranche-de-Conflent.
The "Day Romance" in July. Their area is the history and archeology, they stand at the Abbey of Saint-Michel Cuxa and offer university-level lectures and excursions. Each year a theme is chosen, which is the common thread in the demonstrations. Information +33 4 68 96 27 40.
For more information, contact the Tourist Office Conflent, which is located Prades, Republic Square, at +33 4 68 05 41 02.
