Photo : GABILLEAU Laurent / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Pic du Canigou
The Pic du Canigou peaks at 2,785 metres, in the massif of the same name, in the Conflent, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It is the easternmost summit of the Pyrenean range to exceed 2,700 metres. It marks a point where four communes meet: Casteil, Taurinya, Valmanya and Vernet-les-Bains. An iron cross, erected during the Second World War by Perpignan scouts, crowns the summit.
In fine weather, the Canigou is visible from Marseille, 250 kilometres away, notably at sunrise and sunset in February and October. According to the chronicles, King Peter III of Aragon climbed it around 1280, although it is not certain that he reached the true summit.
The mountain is a strong symbol of Catalan identity. It inspired the poet Jacint Verdaguer. Every night of Saint John's Eve, hundreds of people climb up to light fires whose flame is then spread throughout Catalonia. The climb calls for a good level and serious preparation; find out about the weather and the state of the paths before setting off.
