If you live in France and don’t have the money to go visit Cappadocia nor the energy to hike in the Bardenas, you might like the Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt site.
How Can You Go To The Orgues of Ille-sur-Têt?
Ille-sur-Têt is a small city with less than 6,000 residents. It is located close to Perpignan, in the South of France. From Perpignan, you can take the train (sometimes, during Summer, it costs only 1 euro!).
Then, from the city, you have to walk for about 30 minutes to reach the “little Cappadocia”. But the city center is cute and the walk is quite nice. You just have to follow the signs.
You first walk on a path lined with strange and sometimes funny sculptures, and then you arrive at the site itself.
What Are The Orgues of Ille-sur-Têt?
These geological formations nearly seem like they are from another planet. Spoiler alert: they’re not. Just like in the Turkish Cappadocia and the Spanish Bardenas, erosion has, over time, sculpted the sand and the clay they’re made of.
Since 1981, these fairy chimneys have been classified as one of the natural monuments and sites with an artistic, historic, scientific, legendary or picturesque aspect of France, and they are protected. So please, be respectful.
This place is wonderful, but don’t be surprised by its size. It takes less than an hour to see all of it: the Orgues of Ille-sur-Têt are small.
Should You Travel From Far Away To See This Site?
The size of this natural monument can be disappointing for some, so you shouldn’t come to the area only to visit this site. However, the whole region is quite charming. Perpignan offers some nice touristic spots, and Collioure is definitely a place where you should go.
So, in my opinion, it’s worth coming to this part of France and see the Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt at the same time as the rest of the regional wonders.
To see more photos of France, you can visit the gallery France.
