Former Dominican convent

You’re standing in front of what remains of the former Dominican convent—a place rich in history, though often missed by visitors. It was founded in 1290, when Collioure belonged to the Kingdom of Majorca. The Dominican friars, known as preachers, settled here to spread the Catholic faith, teach, and care for the sick, as convents often served as places of refuge and support. The original complex once covered a large area, with a church, a cloister, and several convent buildings. It stood just outside the medieval town walls, between the fortified zone and the vineyards. The convent church, partly preserved today, still shows traces of Catalan Gothic architecture, with its graceful arches and pointed windows. Like many religious sites, it was seized during the French Revolution, sold as national property, then used for farming before being gradually divided. What remains today is only a fragment of the original convent, yet it still bears witness to Collioure’s spiritual past—long before the famous bell tower of Notre-Dame-des-Anges. As you look at these old stones, it’s easy to imagine the soft echo of the monks’ chants and their quiet steps through the cloister seven centuries ago. Since 1926, the former church has taken on a very different role—it now houses the local cooperative wine cellar, where AOP Collioure and Banyuls wines are produced, aged, and sold by around 150 local winemakers. Beneath these medieval vaults, the region’s finest wines mature—a perfect blend of history and tradition. The site welcomes visitors for tastings, guided tours, and direct wine sales—a must for anyone who loves heritage and great wine.