Dusk in Collioure

January 10, 2024: Dusk in Collioure is magical.  Music drifts from the promenade and locals fill the beach for a night swim as the lights shimmer off the dark waters. 

Night after Dawn

As I wrote my last post about Dawn in Collioure, I knew I had to write at least one more on our temporary home in French Catalan: Dusk in Collioure.  La promenade du soir (“the walk of evening”) is a ritual – unhurried, perhaps with gelato in hand, as the waterfront comes re-awakens following the afternoon lull. The views are intoxicating.

Night Swim

To our surprise, the beach the beach was lively with locals out for a night swim.  Plage de Port d’Avall below the old fort is wide and shallow, protected on three sides, so safe for an evening dip.  It was a bit chilly for us.  But if you are local and working all day, this is when you swim!

The promenade and nearby back alleys were hopping also.  Some restaurants had live music, and street performers filled in elsewhere.  The promenade was mostly for drinks; the best food was found an alley or two in, where the rent is cheaper and the focus is on the food, not the view.

We visited in the last half of August and first half of September 2023.  It was very busy the first couple of weeks, and pleasantly uncrowded after September 1st, when kids of all ages where back in school.  It was a wonderful time and place to be.