Lounge in the Templar apartment

The garden entrance to the chateau

The dining room in the Picasso apartment

Bedroom in converted chapel in the Templar apartment

The tower apartment

Amazing colours outside the juliet balcony in the tower apartment

One of the highlights of the Super League is that rugby league fans get an away fixture in the relaxing southern French city of Perpignan to play Catalans Dragons.

The dates the teams now play there are out (see the bottom of the feature) so fans could do with booking early if they want to stay in apartments in this stunning chateau which is sure to book up quickly.

The chateau is just 15 minutes’ walk from the stadium in one direction and the city centre in the other.

The chateau, called Chateau La Tour Apollinaire, is set in its own grounds with a swimming pool open in the summer months and is keen to welcome visitors from England – so much so that they are offering a 10% discount and to get that simply add the code AH1 while booking.

It’s well worth turning it into a mini break or even a longer holiday as the city is very inexpensive, especially as all the travel on buses and trains is heavily subsidised. Each journey costs just one Euro, be that to the coast or the mountains.

The city is 15 minutes from the coast and lots of quaint fishing villages yet just 30 minutes from the Pyrenees and UNESCO world heritage sites such as the medieval village of Villefranche-de-Conflent.

Ryanair flies into this Perpignan airport a couple of times a week usually at a very cut price rate compared to many other European destinations.

Perpignan is around eight miles from the Mediterranean coast that’s home to massive stretches of golden sands with great bus and train connections.

There are small, idyllic villages such as Collioure, named France’s Favourite Town in 2024.

Then there’s the long promenade at the nearest beach to Perpignan, Canet.

Foodies will love the fact that most restaurants anywhere in the region have a menu of the day for around 20 to 25 Euros per person and a litre of wine will add another 15 Euros. The meals are true Catalan and made with pride and an eagerness to please. Each comes with bread and water so no need to ask, no fuss and no extra charge.

I’ve stayed at Chateau Apollinaire and it’s like living in history – the tapestries on the wall could have come straight from the 1700s – and the tower has two balconies so you could sit in the sun looking over the rooftops any time of the day.

The chateau is managed by Thierry, the kind of host who can’t do enough to make sure you’ve everything you need from information on the area to a jar full of coffee. Proper coffee.

Airbnb? More like Heirbnb as we felt to be living like royalty and all for just over £100 a night. There are other magnificent apartments in the chateau too, all immaculately renovated with a keen eye on style, culture and heritage. You won’t find better and it was peaceful and quiet. When sitting it in its large grounds you could be in the middle of the countryside rather than close to a city centre.

To book the apartments at the Chateau Apollinaire direct go to https://www.chateaulta.com and don’t forget to add in the code AH1 to get your discount.

Perpignan rugby league fixtures 2026

Friday, February 13 at 7pm: Huddersfield Giants

Saturday, February 28 at 7pm: St Helens

Saturday, March 21 at 6.30pm: Hull KR

Saturday, April 4 at 7pm: Toulouse Olympique

Saturday, April 18 at 7pm: Warrington Wolves

Saturday, May 2 at 7pm: Leigh Leopards

Saturday, June 13 at 7pm: Castleford Tigers

Saturday, June 20 at 7pm: Bradford Bulls

Saturday, July 11 at 9pm: Leeds Rhinos

Saturday, August 1 at 9pm: Wakefield Trinity

Saturday, August 22 at 9pm: Hull FC

Saturday, September 5 at 7pm: York Knights