The Tramontane is blowing hard in the sails of the sailors and kitesurfers that day in the Gulf of Lion.
We double them.
The CTM cruises excursion boat, where we took a seat, speeds through the waves of the rough sea, after venturing into the tamed meanders of the lagoon.
“
Here the wind is in our DNA.
And it is even our ally, because we know that every time there is wind there will be sun
,” remarks Grégoire Goullet, general director of the Roussihotel group, who is signing his third franchise with Pierre & Vacances to open, this Wednesday in Saint-Cyprien, in Occitanie, its first high-end tourist residence.
In the background stands out the Albères range through which we reach Spain, and in the distance, the snows of Mount Canigou which are being discussed these days to take new measurements of the peak, the latest of which show it at 2785 meters .
Welcome to Saint-Cyprien, 22 km from Perpignan, 20 km from Collioure and less than 5 km from Spain (La Jonquera).
“
We are the third largest marina in Europe behind La Rochelle and Port Camargue.
In the summer, we go from 11,000 inhabitants to nearly 90,000 with 72% second homes
,” describes Catherine Mallet, the director of the tourist office who highlights this lagoon tamed by the Racine mission which, in 1965, created alongside the old fishing village this seaside destination to encourage the French to go on vacation in France, rather than heading to the Iberian Peninsula.
Meanders of the lagoon
“
In the old days, people who bought an apartment also had a place for their boat.
The last neighborhood dates back twenty years.
Now we are preserving wild spaces
,” comments the captain of the boat who takes us to discover Saint-Cyprien by sea, starting with the meanders of the famous lagoon.
A dream: seeing sailboats and small yachts attached to their rings (there are 1850 of them) as bicycles are today, along pocket pontoons offers an ideal, picturesque and nostalgic vision of a golden age a vacation for those who love the sea and not just the beach, which here is long and beautiful.
“Until now, people had the choice between camping or high-end hotels.
And we decided to position ourselves halfway, in a sort of village hotel.
»
Grégoire Goullet, general director of the Roussihotel group
It's there, 900 meters from the sea, behind the Marine Center, a Bénéteau dealership whose brand is displayed in large letters on the window of the immense exhibition space (4,500m²), on a plot of land of 10 hectares where rice was once cultivated, that Pierre & Vacances has established its brand new and first premium residence, under a franchise contract with the Roussillhotel group.
The leader in local tourism - 186 residences in Europe including 143 in France - wants with this address to mark the brand's move upmarket.
“
This site wants to embody the new generation of Pierre & Vacances and a new holiday experience for the region.
Until now, people had the choice between camping or high-end hotels which is our historical preferred sector.
And we decided to position ourselves halfway, in a sort of village hotel
,” declares Grégoire Goullet, general director of Roussillhotel, a family group which has eleven sites from Montpellier to Collioures and also in Marrakech, the Domaine des battlements.
Here, “
After the success of the first two franchise contracts for the Horizon Golf and Les Bulles de Mer residences, Pierre & Vacances wanted to exploit their new area of brand premiumization
,” rejoices Grégory Sion, general manager of Pierre & Vacances .
New Pierre&Vacances Premium in Saint-Cyprien
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Villas clad in wood
It's pretty.
And it’s eco-responsible.
Past the large wrought iron gate, a long path of white gravel stretches out, lined with neat gardens planted with species just waiting to grow and adapted to low humidity.
They surround 79 wood-clad villas with contemporary architecture, arranged in a staggered pattern, the flat roof and the terrace following two contours.
“
Wooden cladding is like a double skin.
We chose it for its aesthetic but also insulating qualities
,” continues Grégoire Goullet, also emphasizing the thermodynamics which dictate the production of economical hot water.
A bed of gravel protects the waterproofing on the roof of houses built like chalets.
Each has a private garden at the back and electrical outlets on the front for recharging your car.
Count €1.50 per kilowatt for slow charging and €1.75 per kilowatt for fast charging.
The meter is opened on arrival and closed on departure of vacationers to calculate the car's consumption.
The interiors are spacious, bright with large bay windows, contemporary decor with pure lines, light wood furniture and greige, blue, powder pink and straw yellow fabrics by Delphine Piller.
A large part of the kitchen and bathroom furniture comes from Albi, but also from Portugal.
Many accessories contribute to making you feel at home here, cushions, baskets, vases inviting you to place flowers, paintings on white walls or enhanced with colorful wallpaper.
Bright and spacious interiors.
The Eye of Eos.
Electric recharges
The kitchen is equipped with all the necessary appliances.
There is plenty of storage space.
Our villa, number 11, for 8 occupants (with sofa bed), had three bedrooms, including one with two single beds, and one with a TV in addition to the one in the living room, and two bathrooms, one of which with Italian shower and oval bathtub like a white ceramic cocoon.
All are equipped with quality refillable soaps and shampoos.
The bedding is comfortable, the numerous pillows satisfy all necks, and the bathroom linen, terry towels and white bathrobes are very reminiscent of quality hotel service.
The soundproofing seems good.
The residence also has 79 apartments with balconies (T3 and T2 on 3 levels, the ground floor condition for disabled people), decorated in the same way, with light tones (risky for families) quite charming.
In front of the building, the parking lot is also equipped with electric charging stations.
The ideal would be for the place to be pedestrian once you are installed, but in the central alley, a sign indicating the speed limit of "10 km/hour", makes it clear that it is not, "
because people in need for shopping and excursions
,” we apologize.
A very family-friendly destination where we already imagine the youngest ones becoming emboldened, you will therefore have to be careful of unexpected crossings.
The kitchen is equipped with all the necessary appliances.
The Eye of Eos
Outdoor pool
At the end of the central aisle is “la Casa Club”, a central point with bar and snacks (no real kitchen, but you have your own).
Through this friendly but noisy room is the entrance to the spa.
It's curious.
It would be better to at least be able to exit through a side door opening onto the terrace for example, in order to preserve the inner calm in which this very small but wonderful space has immersed us.
There is a hammam, a sauna, and a double cabin where massages are provided with mastery (psychology at the tip of your fingers) by Valérie Lavoir, from Thalazur in Antibes, who uses Beauty Garden organic products and adapts each care to the point of finally carrying out a tailor-made massage (50 mins, 90 euros).
It is also in front of the Casa Club that the outdoor swimming pool heated with solar energy is located.
Its depth leaves you wondering: 1.40 meters.
we tell ourselves that it is too much for children and too little for adults.
Furthermore, it doesn't seem that big to us for 151 housing units and we can already imagine the towel war.
Usage will tell.
Eco-responsibles keen to minimize the quantity of water in a region which is sorely lacking in it are delighted.
And the beach is close... Behind the swimming pool are the play and leisure areas: volleyball, mini golf, mini-city, table football, etc... Around twenty activities are accessible free of charge.
And on this site surrounded by cycle paths, electrically assisted bicycles are loaned free of charge at reception.
Enough to experience this residence like a vacation club, a delightful formula between hotel and campsite, in the process of obtaining its 4-star classification.
Opening price
In July-August: count on €2,395 in a 2-room villa for 4 people (i.e. €342 per night or €85/person/night) and €1,860 in a 2-room apartment for 4 people (i.e. €266 per night or 66€ per person per night).
In April or October: €918 in a 2-room villa for 4 people or €131/night or €33/person/night and €760 in a 2-room apartment for 4 people or €108/night or €27/person/night.
Week outside school holidays (May, June, September, October): €1,068 in a 2-room villa for 4 people or €153/night or €38/person/night and €875 in a 2-room apartment for 4 people or €125/night or 31€/person/night.
Premium residence Domaine du Golfe du Lion Pierre & Vacances.
14, rue Henri Béquerel, 66750 Saint-Cyprien.
Tel.: 04 68 95 22 22