La Retirada

5 points of interest

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  Small patrimony

  La placette des transbordeuses

  This woman, wearing a "couffe" (a traditional headscarf, derived from the word "couffin" meaning basket), is a transbordeuse of oranges. Oranges were the main product imported from Spain to France because of their low production cost. Upon arrival, the oranges had to be transferred from one train car to another due to the difference in rail gauge between Spanish and French tracks. Transbordage (transshipment) was required for all types of goods, and similarly, passengers had to change trains and stop at Cerbère. Even the Amar Circus made a stop in Cerbère, delighting children who were able to see the elephants!
  
  There were five teams of transbordeuses, each consisting of five women employed by freight forwarders (transitaires). Although the job was physically demanding, it also had its moments of camaraderie, as the women would work together and enjoy some social interaction, escaping the monotony of everyday life.
  
  However, by 1903, the transbordeuses demanded a 25 sous wage increase because they were working without contracts, facing job insecurity, and being called to work at any hour. They were poorly paid for their hard labor (unloading wagons weighing between 7 and 17 tons) and were compensated with vouchers, which they could only exchange for money on Sundays. Despite promises made by the transitaires, the women received nothing.
  
  In 1906, Cerbère became the site of France's first women's strike, in the midst of a broader climate of social protests and demands for workers' rights. This historic strike marked a key moment in the fight for better working conditions and pay for women in the labor force.

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  Small patrimony

  Turret of "Le Col des Belitres"

  Turret dating from the Second World War. Constituent element of the Mediterranean fortified front made by German forces in 1942 in response to the landing in North Africa which forces the German forces to occupy the free zone.

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  Geology

  The cliffs of Cerbère

  The Cliffs of Cerbère are among the highest in Europe and are part of the Banyuls to Cerbère Ecological and Faunistical/Floral Natural Area (Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Ecologique Faunistique et Floristique des Falaises de Banyuls à Cerbère). Located in the southern part of the Côte Vermeille, this protected area stretches across 7 kilometers of coastline between Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère, covering 140 hectares.
  
  This rugged coastline is oriented from north-northwest to south-southeast and is predominantly made up of schist. The cliffs are sharply cut and are followed by numerous reefs and underwater islets. Several prominent capes punctuate the coastline, including the Cap de l'Abeille, Cap Redéris, Cap de Peyrefite, and Cap Canadell, which demarcate several sandy coves. The most significant of these is Peyrefite Beach.
  
  The summit plateaus are covered with Mediterranean vegetation, including grasslands and maquis scrubland, which are often intersected by temporary streams. This diverse and ecologically significant landscape is a haven for a wide range of plant and animal species, making it an area of great natural interest.

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  Small patrimony

  boundary stone n°601

  The boundary markers 601 and 601bis are part of the 602 boundary stones and crosses that delineate the Franco-Spanish border. These markers represent the last accessible land-based boundary points before the border reaches the Mediterranean Sea. The marker 602 is located in the Foradada Cave in the sea, between Cerbère and Port-Bou.
  
  These boundary stones were established following the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 and the Treaty of Bayonne in 1856, which set the current course of the border.
  
  To reach boundary stone 601, one should follow the customs path (sentier douanier). Upon reaching the sign marking the end of the path section, continue straight ahead (following the yellow cross) rather than turning right onto the dirt track. This will bring you to the boundary stone, allowing you to experience this historical marker along the French-Spanish border.

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  Small patrimony

  Solar Lighthouse of Cap Cerbère

  The last lighthouse before the French-Spanish border, this structure, built in 1982, replaced the old Cerbère lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 1980. Also known as the “Solar Lighthouse” due to its power source—photovoltaic cells—it has a range of 15 nautical miles. To preserve the landscape, all external electrical wiring was excluded from the site. Don’t miss this lighthouse, recognizable by its grey stones and tall red top.

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