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Sorede ‘ la perle des Albères’ as it is know here, is a relatively undiscovered village, lying in the foothills of  the Albères mountain range. The often snow capped  sacred mountain of the Catalans ‘Le Canigou’ part of the Pyrenees, can be seen in the distance. Look in the opposite direction & you will see the sparkling turquoise coast of the Mediterranean sea.

Sorède is an authentic, friendly typically Catalan village. Even in summer it remains quiet,  yet the bustling seafront is only 10 minutes drive away. Unlike some other places Sorede is open for business all year round & has remained typically French.
Sorède offers a full range of shops including 2 boulangers & a particularly  good greengrocers. The local newsagents sells English newspapers. You can get the Sunday paper on Sunday here, I’m told this is very unusual! There is a  helpful tourist office in the village with a well equipped children’s playground, post office & cash dispenser nearby. Sorède has a small twice weekly market where the locals gather for a chat. You can watch with a cup of coffee from the tapas bar.

Tourist information, bank & post office area		Childrens Playground

Sorede horse made from riding crops, Sorede's speciality

Tennis courts, boules piste & swimming pool are also located in the village center. The Ranch des Albères, offering horse riding, is found on the outskirts the village. Having done a ride there myself now, I can highly recommend it, even for complete beginners.
If it’s a cup of coffee, glass of wine, snack or full meal you are looking for, there are  plenty of cafes & restaurants to choose from in Sorede, most are good value for money. The village square is one of my favorite places to chill out. There are often music evenings  & Sardane dancing to visit here, especially in summer. The rugby bar too has regular local music & snacks.

Sorede wine cellar		Sorede church

Sorede main square with cafes and restaurants

Venture up to Lavail (15 minutes drive) & after bathing in the rock pools you can enjoy a crepe at the restaurant. The garden is magical & the owner very personable.

Lavail in summer		Lavail in spring

Lavail creperie, delicious!

The 'Valee des Tortues', 5 minutes drive from the center of Sorède or longish walk, is an interesting tortoise park surrounded in beauty & the staff are very friendly. There are tortoises of all shapes & sizes. From here you will also find plenty of interesting mountain walks to explore.
Sorède is very accessible to other picturesque villages, mountain walks & the coast. From Sorède itself there is a stunning walk up to Notre Dame du Château with beautiful wild flowers in spring & views as far as the eye can see. (See photo above). Cycling or walking through vineyards is also a real joy in this area.
Throughout the year Sorède holds various traditional festivals & exhibitions. The tourist office has the latest information on these. In the summer there are open air films to enjoy.
The horse whip making workshop is open to the public as is  'le Musee de L’Olivette' which gives you a tour by little train.
During July & August there is a swimming pool open in the village.
As you can see Sorède has a lot to offer.

The seasons

Winter: it can go below freezing at night occasionally, but temperatures can often climb up to around 15°C by lunchtime & on still days it’s possible to eat outside in the sun. Generally January is the coldest month. You will find the further up into the mountains you go the colder it gets. Of course that’s great for skiing etc. By the sea it is also more windy & therefore cooler. Sorède has one of the best climates in the area at this time of year as it is also fairly sheltered from strong winds. The air is clear & the sun often shines. Sitting beside a wood burning stove is lovely & cozy. Christmas here is very low key which is wonderful after having experienced all the English hype! Children sing round the Christmas tree in the village square & 'Père Noël' comes to visit them. It is all very charming & old fashioned in the best possible way. If you are interested in buying a property here this is one of the best times to visit as prices are more competitive & agents are freer to show you round.

'Pere Noël' in Sorede		The Canigou, view from Sorede, in winter

Spring: it is one of my favorite times of year here. Rivers surge with melt water from the mountains.  Flowers abound wherever you turn, as they must get their growing in before the hot dry summer. We do get some rain in spring, but in between the rain are beautiful sunny warm days with clear skies. There are very few tourists about so you get to explore the area with great ease & joy. Walking is wonderful  especially up into the hills or mountains. This is also a good time to visit bigger towns & cities such as Perpignan or Gerona.

Mountain flowers, abound in spring		Fruit trees blosooming in early spring

Summer: You will get pretty much guaranteed sun, very little rain, warm Mediterranean seas & lots of water sports to try out. When you have had enough of the action by the sea you can retreat quickly to the peace & tranquility of Sorède, or retreat further still to the cooler air of mountains. That’s why we live here! It is very relaxing & slows you down from your normal often hectic pace of life. When you’ve experienced summer here you will be sure to feel like you’ve had one. Eating outside on the balmy summer evenings is such a pleasure especially when you have so many good restaurants to choose from & so much local wine to sample! By the sea you will find both long sandy beaches & small rocky coves & with the water clear & warm you will be tempted to stay in for a long while.

 

Relaxing at a local restaurant		Sorede square, comes to life at night.

Relax on the terrace

Autumn: Again I love this as the weather is warm, the flowers come out again & quiet returns to the area. It is wonderful for walking or cycling or visiting markets, cities & towns.

Grapes, ready to pick		View of Sorede

The great thing here is that you really do experience true seasons & the weather is dramatic & interesting.