Collioure

Collioure (French: Collioure, pronounced [kɔˈljuʀ]; Catalan: Cotlliure) is a seaside Mediterranean town and commune a few kilometers north of the Spanish border in the French département of Pyrénées-Orientales, a part of the ancient Roussillon province and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon région. Collioure is also the name of a fine full bodied red wine produced here in one of the smallest AOC vignards in France.The ancient terraced vines in the hills behind the town also provide tiny sunbaked grapes for the famous Banyuls (Banyuls AOC) aperitif and desert wine. As the town has a strong Catalan culture, its own motto is the same as the one of the local Catalan rugby team (USA Perpignan, France) which is Sempre endavant, mai morirem (Always forward, We'll never die). Under Michel Moly's leadership, the town has an alternative motto, Collioure sera toujours Collioure (Collioure shall always be Collioure) quoting French singer Maurice Chevalier's famous song titled Paris sera toujours Paris. Collioure is famous throughout France for its 3-day August 15th celebration, which attracts twice its population in visitors, who come to see the town's bodégas and fireworks.