Discover Perpignan's unique history !
Perpignan has a rich history and an exceptional cultural heritage. From the fossils of the Serrat d'en Vaquer to the architectural achievements of the 20th century, via the oppidum of Ruscino, the Kingdom of Majorca and the Treaty of the Pyrenees... this city is over two thousand years old and has had an eventful history.
Although there are Neolithic settlements and remains from the Roman era, the history of the city of Perpignan does not begin until the 10th century! In fact, the first mention of the town dates back to May 20th 927! Then came the Middle Ages and the Kingdom of Majorca. During this period, the city experienced exceptional industrial and commercial growth.
'Perpignan Expériences' takes you back in time to this fascinating history: guided tours, cultural circuits, meetings with history buffs... everything is designed to help you relive the city's golden age.
Did you know ?
- Perpignan has twice been a capital city! First as the capital of the County of Roussillon in 1162, then as the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca from 1276 to 1344. Perpignan then became part of the kingdom of France following the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659.
- Do you know what Claude Simon, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Raoul Dufy and John Gardner, the creator of James Bond 007, have in common? They all wrote about Perpignan!
Le Carillon
Did you know that the Perpignan carillon was used at the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition? Once the exhibition was over, it was shipped back to Perpignan in 1879, before being permanently installed in the Saint-Jean-le-Vieux bell tower in 1885.
Right next to the Castillet
Its crystal-clear chimes have set the pace in the city centre for many decades. The Ducommun jewellers opened their doors in 1840. But how did this family arrive in Perpignan?
Pierre Joseph Henri Ducommun, a watchmaker of Swiss origin from Toulouse, was called to Perpignan when a famous general, ‘de Castellane’, broke his most precious watch.
Considered the best watchmaker, the general gave him so much work that Ducommun ended up settling in Perpignan in a workshop at the foot of the Castillet.
Not being able to speak Catalan, he hired Lucie Rigaud, Hyacinthe Rigaud's niece, and the partnership ended in marriage. This was the beginning of the Ducommun dynasty in Perpignan, which is still famous today.
