Salses Fortress 2CV Tour: Backroads Vineyard Drive

A 2CV climbs dirt roads to a 2,000-year-old juniper and a Spanish fortress.

A three-hour guided tour of the Salses Fortress and surrounding villages in a classic 2CV Citroën, departing from Perpignan with a professional tourism guide who adapts commentary to your interests. The car's open design and small-road access reach spots larger vehicles cannot. You'll climb to a feudal castle, visit an ancient monastery overlooking the Aggly valley, and walk up to the Salses Fortress overlook. Private transportation and binoculars are included. The guide speaks French and welcomes questions throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of Perpignan and surroundings

• Visit monastery overlooking Aggly valley
• Learn about city's rich past and heritage
• Visit feudal castle after city crossing
• See oldest juniper tree via small road
• Drive to orchards in Salses-le-château
• Tour fortress of Salses by vehicle
• Walk to former castle site near fortress

The experience

The 2CV Citroën is the whole point here. Its lightweight frame and high clearance let the guide take you down dirt roads and paths that cut through vineyards, connecting the most beautiful spots without the highway detours a tour bus would need. The car is open to the air, so you're not watching the landscape through glass. You're in it, and the guide can stop mid-route to point something out without the fuss of parking a larger vehicle.

The route strings together four stops, each one a small climb or a short walk. You'll visit a monastery perched above the Aggly valley with a relatively easy ascent; pass through a historically significant city and then hike up to its feudal castle; detour on a tiny typical road to find the oldest juniper in the world, around 2,000 years old; and finish at the Salses Fortress, a military stronghold from the Spanish era. At the fortress, you drive around the perimeter, then walk up to the site where a castle stood before it was built. The guide gives a short history there, though you don't enter the fortress itself.

The guide is a professional trained in tourism and builds the commentary around what interests you. Questions and participation are welcome, and the tone stays conversational rather than lecture-heavy. Information comes during stops and also while you're driving, so there's no dead time in the car.

What’s included

• Private transportation in the 2CV Citroën.
• loan of binoculars or picnic equipment if you choose it.
• a professional guide who speaks French and adapts commentary to your interests.

Before you book

GroupPrivate

Live guideFrench

Operated by Cyril PETIT

Is this one for you?This tour is private, so you travel with just your group in the 2CV: ideal if you want the guide's full attention and the flexibility to linger at stops or ask questions without keeping a larger group waiting. The open-air car and small-road access are what make the remote spots reachable. If you prefer a closed vehicle or main-road routes, a standard minibus tour would suit you better.

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Top questions

What is the Salses Fortress and why does the tour stop there?

The Salses Fortress is a military stronghold built during the Spanish era, located near the town of Salses-le-Château. The tour approaches it by a small dirt road through orchards, then you walk up to the overlook where an earlier castle once stood. The guide explains the site's history from that vantage point.

Can I bring my young children on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it does include several relatively easy climbs to viewpoints and the monastery.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Walking is broken into short segments: a relatively easy climb to the monastery, a walk up to the feudal castle, and a final climb to the Salses Fortress overlook. None of these are strenuous, and the guide describes each approach as accessible before you arrive.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks French and is a professional trained in tourism. They adapt their commentary to your interests and welcome questions throughout the tour.

What happens if I want to bring binoculars or picnic equipment?

Binoculars and picnic equipment are available to borrow from the guide if you request them when booking. They're included as part of the tour.