The Catalan barques - Tourisme Pyrénées

Press Release 3-12
Pyrénées-Orientales
Welcome to the Mediterranean Pyrenees!
I N F O R M AT I O N
General Council of Pyrénées-Orientales
Cultural Activities and Heritage Directorate
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 85 89 35
[email protected]
The Catalan barques
Royal Castle of Collioure
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 82 06 43
www.cg66.fr
Collioure Tourist Office
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 82 15 47
[email protected]
www.collioure.com
Association "Vela i Vent"
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 88 18 47
[email protected]
Association Sauvons "Idéal"
Tel. +33 (0)6 20 80 52 80
[email protected]
Association ARJAU
Tel. +33 (0)6 28 53 39 69
www.arjau-voile-et-tradition.over-blog.com
Internet links
www.tourisme-pyreneesorientales.com
www.cg66.fr/culture/expositions/
patrimoine_maritime/index.html
www.cerbere-village.com/barque.php3
http://sardinal.ideal.chez-alice.fr
www.terresdenvies.com/cosina.htm
Reference to other information sheets
Catalanity, Fishing by lamp-light,
the Catalan coast, Marinas
The Catalan traditional fishing boats or "barques" ("llaguts" in Catalan), are as old as
the Mediterranean civilisation and boast a superb lateen sail, which gives them
unparalleled elegance.
Despite its rudimentary simplicity, this rig works wonders in the Mediterranean since
time immemorial. Greeks and Romans used it in their galleys, and the Barbary pirates
equipped their speed boats to board their enemies. It is this system which is still used
today on the fragile Nile feluccas and the Maltese ferillas.
The Catalan barques are built here, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Banyuls, Collioure, Le
Barcarès used to have their shipyard on the beach or the dock. They brought life to
ports, they were their lungs and heart.
At the beginning of last century Collioure had, for example, a fleet of one hundred
"sardinals" (sardine-fishing boats) which employed more than 700 sailors. The port
also included over 20 salting workshops, fifteen shippers, coopers... The arrival of the
diesel engine of course transformed the "great Catalans", and sails were used only
occasionally. They faded in the '60s with the arrival of more modern and powerful
trawlers.
Today, the barques float again on the Catalan coast when sailing regattas are
organised.
Finally, many associations of rowers perpetuate the tradition into which the crews were
engaged to sell their fish: the rowing regattas on "llaguts" are organised on sunny
days in Port-Barcarès, Saint-Cyprien, Collioure, Port-Vendres, Cerbère...
PRESS SERVICE
Pyrénées-Orientales Tourist Board
Pascale Gimenez > Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 68 - [email protected]
Martine Caudine > Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 58 - [email protected]
Pyrénées-Orientales Tourist Board
16, avenue des Palmiers - CS 80540
66005 Perpignan Cedex - France
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 53
www.tourisme-pyreneesorientales.com
Pyrénées-Orientales
Departmental workshop for the restoration
and conservation of maritime heritage
The Maritime Heritage Commission was established in July 2002
by the General Council of Pyrénées-Orientales, with the support of
the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Languedoc-Roussillon
(DRAC).
Reporting to this Commission, the workshop for restoration and
conservation is devoted to the enhancement of the Northern
Catalan maritime heritage through the restoration of a collection
of Mediterranean barques (traditional small fishing boats) and its
presentation to the public in various ways (boat rides, a boat
collection on land, a museum and educational tools). The centre
also aims to develop research on maritime heritage, create a
documentation fund and provide information to the general public.
Currently located in the department’s technical centre in
Perpignan, it will be gradually transferred and developed on the
site of the cove of Paulilles, recently restored and opened to the
public in 2008 by the General Council.
Maritime heritage exhibition
at the Royal Castle of Collioure
Press Release 3-12
Welcome to the Mediterranean Pyrenees!
Books, brochures
• "Et voguent tartanes et voiles latine..." Pierre Blasi, Collection
Mémoire de Mer, published by EDISUD (2001)
• "La voile et les voiliers de tradition" by Dominique Le Brun and
Philippe Payen, published by SOLAR MER (1999)
• "Le vent, la navigation et le patrimoine maritime, manuel
pratique" - Mediterranean Environment Agency, by Région
Languedoc-Roussillon (2002)
• "Guide de la manoeuvre des petits voiliers traditionnels"
published by Le Chasse-Marée (2001)
• "Dictionnaire de la Marine à voiles" by Captain of the « Paris »
(1847), published by Layeur.
• "Nuestra vela latina" by Francisco Oller and Vicente Garcia-
Delgado. Published by Juventud (1996), Catalonia, Spain
• "Bateaux des côtes de France, 1 Voiles Latines - Renaissance des
bateaux de Méditerranée", by Jean Huet, Philippe Rigaud and
Bernard Vigne, published by Le Chasse-Marée (2004)
But where are the beautiful Catalans? The Catalan fishing boats,
the ones that used to colour the coast of the Pyrénées-Orientales?
The ones which prompted Raoul Dufy to write that "Collioure
without sails, is a night without stars."
Today, there are only a few sailing copies of these constructions,
among them "Our Lady of Consolation", listed as a National
Monument. What a pride to be aboard: amateur sailors coming
across it, humbly salute. On the quay, not a single granddad,
holding the hand of his young grandchildren, cannot help but
remind the history of the Catalan coast
The fishing seasons, the harsh life of these sailors, the departures
from the rocky and sandy shores aboard the "sardinals" (sardine
fishing boats). These boats are part of the Catalan Maritime
Heritage. But this heritage also includes all about fishing whether
at sea or on the lagoons, all that is on land and allows these boats
to navigate, the fishermen to ply their trade and this wealth to
survive.
PRESS SERVICE
Pyrénées-Orientales Tourist Board
Pascale Gimenez > Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 68 - [email protected]
Martine Caudine > Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 58 - [email protected]
Pyrénées-Orientales Tourist Board
16, avenue des Palmiers - CS 80540
66005 Perpignan Cedex - France
Tel. +33 (0)4 68 51 52 53
www.tourisme-pyreneesorientales.com