The past several months, as we have begun to share our property with people from around the world, has been a very exciting time.  We purchased our apartment in France with a specific goal in mind – to eventually live in this little town that we love so much.  The big idea was to buy a place with the goal to move there for half the year when we eventually retire.  In the interim we are embarking on a rental journey, offering this wonderful space to vacation seekers.

Some people think we are crazy while others seem to be slightly envious. But regardless of what others say, we knew what we wanted.  We spent numerous hours discussing how to make the apartment a wonderful place for people to visit.  Pulling from our past travel experiences, we tried to think of everything that people on holiday would need to make them comfortable.  We decorated it tastefully and provided a welcoming environment for people, in hopes that they would absolutely love the place and plan to visit again.

Once we had everything set up and services in place, we posted ads on various popular vacation rental websites and then….we waited.  We didn’t know what to expect.  Our hopes were that we would maybe begin to see bookings for April or May but our real target was actually for July, August and September.

Within a few weeks we had our first booking for March from a lovely couple who was travelling from Texas in the U.S.  And then from there it really picked up and very quickly we had several consecutive bookings from the end of February to the end of March.  Woo hoo!  We were excited to see people coming from all parts of the world.  Our first guests travelled from India, followed by families from Russia, Spain and Germany!

Today we don’t know what to say other than “wow” – we really can’t believe how things are shaping up.  All of a sudden we have bookings for April and May, and are looking forward to welcoming people from Ireland, Australia and the U.S.  And reaching forward to the summer, we have a French family staying for two weeks in August.

Each day we look with anticipation to see if we have new inquiries.  We love to see the new notifications and answer people’s questions about the location, things to do in the area and specifics about the apartment. We have received great feedback from our guests and heartfelt thanks as we attempt to make every experience a personal and memorable one.

It is so rewarding to see this project coming together.  We planned, we researched, we made very deliberate decisions and now it is all going exactly as planned and even earlier than anticipated.  The gamble is paying off and now each day we can’t wait to see who we will interact with next!  We’ll keep you posted as things continue to progress.    

One day when we were leaving our real estate representative’s office, we noticed across the road there was a stone structure that we had noticed before but didn’t know what it actually was.  This happens quite frequently in Collioure, as there are so many interesting buildings and structures to look at.  As our children have commented “There’s so much old stuff here.” There certainly is, my dear ones.

So this particular day we decided to have a look at this building and try to discover its reason for being there in the middle of the town.  It turns out that this was originally built over 600 years ago (yes it’s old) and was used as a lighthouse.  There was an actual fire burning at the top in order to guide fishermen home to the Port.  Makes sense based on the tower being built right in the middle of the bay.

Over the years it’s purpose changed and due to its location in the centre of town, this tower was made into the village’s customs checkpoint.  What better spot since it was positioned perfectly for the travelers who would use the coastal road to work their way to and from Spain?  After the 1659 Treaty when Collioure became part of France, it was very common for people to smuggle wine from Spain.  This was a regular occurrence until the locals were finally encouraged to plant and grow their own grapes.  Judging by the terraces that stretch as far as the eye can see – plant they did!    During the time that the tower was a checkpoint there was a small house and office building adjoining the structure.  These extra buildings are no longer there now, however they are visible in some of the early paintings and sketches by Matisse.  Apparently they were removed in the 1950’s.

So after a little digging, we now know the history of the Tour D’Avall or Customs Tower.  Interesting that a tower that stands so tall and majestic had such an important function in the past.  This is just one of the many reasons why we love this town.  There is always something to explore or a puzzle to solve – almost like a great big treasure hunt in our backyard!  Next time you are travelling, take some time to check out a non-descript building that you see.  You might be surprised by what you discover.

For more than 100 years the small fishing village of Collioure has been an artist’s haven.  As early as the late 1800’s painters and sketchers have repeatedly remarked on the stunning beauty, bold colours and fascinating light that catches every artist’s eye. 

As far back as the Victorian era, Paul Signac and Henri-Edmond Cross, both French neo-impressionist painters who helped developed the pointillist style, loved to paint the sailing and coastal life in Collioure. 

However it was perhaps the artists of the early twentieth century that are most famous for living and painting in this village.  Henri Matisse and André Derain were modern artists who lead the Fauvism movement.  It was known as the style of the Fauves, which is French for “Wild Beasts”.   These paintings were bold with what looked sometimes like wild brushstrokes and very vibrant colours that were often applied directly from the tube rather than mixed.  This was a departure from the traditional methods previously used and as a result caused quite a stir.  When visiting Collioure, make sure you walk the Fauvism trail that follows spots from where famous pictures were painted.

In the 1920’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Scottish architect and water-colour artist along with Rudolph Ihlee an English engineering draughtsman both lived in Collioure and created beautiful geometric landscapes that demonstrated their incredible technical skills.

And of course another famous set of artists – Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali both of Spanish descent, lived and painted in the 1950’s in the town of Collioure.  They would often bring their artist community to the village and it is said that they would pay for their drinks at local establishments by painting works of art.

Today you can easily understand the continued traditions of many artists just by strolling down the streets and laneways that are full of studios and galleries.  These artists are passionate about their trade and love for you to stop and chat with them.  They show off their work and tell you pleasant stories about how the sky was just a specific blue one perfect evening and how that inspired one particular detail.  From the professional galleries in town to the folks selling their sketches at the side of the Royal Palace, we have found all of these people to be open, friendly and truly genuine.  The longstanding tradition of creativity is evident around every corner – and this scenery continues to inspire people from all over the world.  See what happens when you visit.  You may just feel the desire to create something magical!

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• Henri Matisse: Life and Fauvism
• Collioure: the pearl of the coastal Roussillon
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When we travel to Europe we are very often amazed at the beauty of the buildings and structures that grace so many towns and cities.  Sometimes it is the sheer size of a structure that makes us marvel.  Other times it is the complicated process it must have taken to design and then build large, elaborate buildings during a time with no modern machinery or tools.  But more often it is the intricate details of the finishings that really make you stop and look. 

Everyone is familiar with famous artists such as Michelangelo who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or DaVinci who painted and sculpted many of the most recognized pieces from the Renaissance era.  These men created masterpieces because they were masters at their craft.  While there were many who rose to become famous, there were also many more, who spent their lives perfecting their art and preferred to stay working in small shops, never to be discovered. These artisans may not have become famous but we continually see their works in every nook and cranny of historical buildings, furnishings and decorative finishings.

Artisans were described as creative individuals who owned their own business and brought their high quality crafts to the public.  Metal work, etching, plaster designs, woodcarving, and ironwork are only a few of the specialized arts that traditionally have been passed down through generations.  Sadly, artisans that learned a craft as an apprentice or many times handed down from the family business are no longer following in the same footsteps.  These painstaking, detailed crafts are slowly going by the wayside and as years pass there are less of them to see.  This is probably why we admire them so much.

In Collioure, the artisans are known for their expertly crafted wrought ironworks.  Due to the rich sources of iron ore in the Pyrenees mountains, the Catalan forge or “furnace” used for ironwork and cast iron production was well utilized dating back to the 8th century.  This craft was very popular and over the years began to produce some of the finest wrought ironwork in Europe.

You only have to walk down a Collioure street to see this age-old craft on many buildings, balconies, stairwells, doors and windows.  The work is both decorative and in many cases, a structural component to the building.  The ancient medieval techniques with specific regional styles are evident throughout the entire town.  Be sure to take a closer look at the railing ends with curls, diamond shapes or loop styles.  They are lovely to admire and we truly hope the art of the blacksmith will continue to be preserved for many years to come.

Related articles:

• Decorative Ironwork at Retrouvius
• Structural Ironwork