Located at the foot of the Pyrenees, 10 km of the Spanish border, and at 18 km of the Mediterranean Boulou is at the same time a famous thermal spa (digestive tracts, cardio-arterial affections) and a significant economic center (transit rail-road with Spain).

Boulou, which includes/understands 5000 inhabitants, profits

of a position of crossroads allowing to reach

in 90 minutes in Barcelona, Montpellier, and Toulouse

and in 15 minutes in Perpignan and Figueras in EspagneLe climate of the Mediterranean type is moderate and soft with more than 300 days of sun per annum.

The city, organized around the river Tech,

is surrounded by vineyards with like background the cork oak and the chestnut groves of the chain of Albères which develops to the sea.

Canigou, top mythical of the Catalans dominates the landscape majestueusement.

History

Formerly, Boulou was called El Volo, Catalan term whose etymology of origin ibère would indicate a cliff, which, by là-même, locates its toponym at the edge of rivers and ravines (Basseda Lluis, historical Toponymie of northern Catalunya, Prades, 1991, pp 767-770).

Antique Via Domitia in 118 before J-C, with the recent motorway A9 "the Catalan woman" (in 1975), the city, in edge of these significant North-South routes, was the permanent witness of transborder exchanges and the passage of great migrations of people and armies crossing the Pyrenees. serious political confrontations and warriors whose Roussillon was the stake if are deroulés. Its traditions have very many roots: phenicians, Hellenic, Iberian,

Celtic, Roman, Germanic, wisigothic, Arab, Catalan, Hispanic and French.

The prehistoric populations left few visible traces (17 Neolithic sites on which were found the double-side ones of quartz, more recently updated of a dolmen "the creu del Senyal" on the field of Chartreuses) then around 600 years before J-C, the area is occupied by Ibères whose chief town is Illiberis (Elne). Then the Celts extend in the South from Gaule mixing with the populations ibères. In 218 years before J-C these Celtibères make it possible Hannibal to cross Roussillon to go to Italy (however its passage by Boulou and the collar of Perthus is only one assumption, large army having probably passed by Cerdagne to see the Books of Rome, n° 9, 2000).

During XIe and XIIIe centuries, Boulou decides to be protected from all attacked external with construction of fortifications; in 1197 king Pierre d' Aragon and count de Barcelone concede in Guillaue de Montesquieu "… the fortis of Volon....". In 1462 the town of el Volo, says us one still "was closed and well mûrée". The city then was surrounded by ramparts (presence of a castle known as of Carensac) and was protected by 3 turns, corresponding each one to a door of entry.

Today!

The city of Boulou by its economic advancement (industry of cork, development of hydrotherapy…), its historical last rich person, and its privileged geographical situation (Mediterranean to 16 km, of Spain to 9 km…), is a dynamic station.

Thermal baths

thermes:Protégée by the chain of Albères, to 80 m of altitude, the station of Boulou profits from a Mediterranean and moderated privileged climate. The Thermal Springs spouting out, known since IXè century, treat simultaneously the digestive affections and the cardio-arterial diseases.

Sources

Known since the Middle Ages, they are exploited since the end of the XIXe century. Three of enter they are used for the thermal treatment (Boulou, Saint Martin's day and Clémentine).

Water

Water of Boulou is bicarbonated, sodic, calcic and magnesian, carbogazeuses and cold (16°). Very rich in rock salt, potassium, sodium, magnesium, they contain in addition to very many trace elements, coppers, iron, nickel, manganese, money and fluorine. Boulou is the only station with bicarbonated water sodic

Gases

Water of Boulou is strongly carbogazeuses, very rich in CO2 (99%). Carbon dioxide has therapeutic properties powerful and localised vasodilatatrices. The thermal gas is used primarily in the form of injections under cutaneous applied on the level and the lower part of the arterial obstruction. The vasodilatation obtained will increase the gradient of pressure known and under organic and, ainsi, favoriser le développement de la circulation de suppléance.

Hydropathic establishment

Thermal baths of Boulou

The 66165 BOULOU Cedex

Such: 04.68.87.52.00 - Fax: 04.68.87.52.01

leisures

PEDESTRIAN EXCURSIONS

Every Wednesday, exits organized by association "Boulou Leisures Culture"

WALKS

Family walks marked out around Boulou (unfolding with the Office of Tourism).

FISHING

Boulou "Paradise of the fisherman" to the sea, Tech is populated trouts farios and rainbow, barbels, chevesnes, keep, pins, minnows, eels. All the modes are practised: fake, blow, throw, fly…

VTT

4 Circuits marked out around Boulou (folder available to the Office of Tourism).

Hiring of VTT to the camp-site of the Farmhouse Llinas.

BATHE

In the water level of St Jean Pla de Corts: lake of bathe supervised with lawns shone upon within a green framework.

SWIMMING POOL

Opened to the public in July and tous.les.jours August of 10h with 13h and 15h with 19h.

street Ronsard - Such: 04.68.83.18.75