Canigou


The Canigó is a mountain located in the Pyrenees of southern France.
The Canigó is located less than from the sea and has an elevation of. Due to its sharp flanks and its dramatic location near the coast, until the 18th century the Canigou was believed to be the highest mountain in the Pyrenees.

Geography

The Canigó is located in Pyrénées-Orientales, south of Prades and north of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste. Its summit lies on the border between two communes: Vernet-les-Bains and Taurinya. Its location makes it visible from the plains of Roussillon and from Conflent in France, and as well from Empordà in Spain.
Twice a year, in early February and at the end of October, with good weather, the Canigó can be seen at sunset from as far as Marseille, away, by refraction of light. This phenomenon was observed in 1808 by baron Franz Xaver von Zach from the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica in Marseille. All year long, it can also be seen, with good weather, from Agde, Port-Camargue and the Montagne Noire.

Trekking and sightseeing

Jeep tracks on the north side of the massif lead to the Chalet des Cortalets which is a popular outpost with walkers.
There are two ancient monasteries at the foot of the mountain, Martin-du-Canigou and Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.

Canigó Flame

The mountain has symbolical significance for Catalan people. On its summit stands a cross that is often decorated with the Catalan flag. Every year on 23 June, the night before St. John's day, there is a ceremony called Flama del Canigó, where a fire is lit at the mountaintop. People keep a vigil during the night and take torches lit on the fire in a spectacular torch relay to light bonfires elsewhere. Many bonfires are lit in this way all over the Pyrénées-Orientales, Catalonia, Valencian Community, and Balearic Islands, but in practice only goes through the Pyrénées-Orientales and Catalonia.

Literature

The Canigó inspired the epic poem "Canigó" by Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer i Santaló.
In these verses Verdaguer compares the snowy mountain to a Magnolia flower :
Sir Humphry Davy's "The Canigou", dated 26 January , was also inspired by a visit to the spot: