Rue de la Démocratie

Rue de la Démocratie, from the faubourg to the beach of Collioure

A historic thoroughfare of Collioure, Rue de la Démocratie links the old Port d'Avall quarter to the main beach. Lively and popular, it leads the walker from the fishermen's faubourg to the water's edge, at the heart of the village's daily life. The Collioure audio-guided tour gladly takes it, for it condenses the spirit of the town: a blend of republican history, artistic memory and Catalan everyday life.

A street named after an ideal

Its name illustrates the republican, open spirit of Collioure, rooted in the values of freedom and solidarity carried since the nineteenth century. Once called the faubourg de la Liberté, the street also left its mark on art history: in 1905 Henri Matisse set up nearby a studio open onto the harbour, from which he painted his famous scenes of the faubourg. Behind its bustle, the street thus keeps a double memory, political and artistic.

What to see

Walking up the street, you cross the lively Port d'Avall quarter, with its shops, Catalan façades and the atmosphere of a faubourg facing the sea. It opens onto the main beach of Collioure, facing the castle and the bell tower: a delicious contrast between popular bustle and postcard. It is a fine way to link, on foot, everyday Collioure and the one the whole world knows.

Practical information

Rue de la Démocratie crosses the Port d'Avall quarter and reaches the main beach of Collioure; access is free and permanent, on foot. It is a shopping street in the centre, to be explored on foot, as parking is very limited in season. The route is broadly flat, but it can be very busy at beach and market times.

Where does Rue de la Démocratie lead?

It links the old Port d'Avall quarter to the main beach of Collioure, facing the royal castle and the bell tower of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.

What is the link between this street and Matisse?

In 1905, Henri Matisse set up near this faubourg a studio open onto the harbour, from which he painted several of his Fauve works, anchoring the quarter in the history of modern art.