Pyrénées Orientales

Pyrénées-Orientales is located at the southernmost point of France, on the border with Spain and the Mediterranean coast, with Perpignan as its capital. The department is part of the historic-cultural region of Catalonia (Roussillon) and combines Mediterranean beaches, the Pyrenees mountains (including Mount Canigou), and vineyard plains. Its economy is based on agriculture (fruit, wine), coastal tourism, and mountain tourism. A sunny Mediterranean climate with more than 300 sunny days a year, Catalan culture, and a cost of living more reasonable than other coastal areas of southern France are among its features.

Perpignan, Canet-en-Roussillon, Collioure

• Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) - The region's main university, offering law, science, languages, economics and more, from bachelor's to doctoral level.

Perpignan is a mid-sized city with both calm neighborhoods and somewhat rougher ones; students usually live in the city center or near the university. The smaller coastal towns tend to be calmer.

The Perpignan urban bus network (CTPM) and regional buses connect coastal and inland towns. TER trains run to Narbonne, Toulouse, and Spain.