Le Racou is officially part of Argeles-sur-Mer but could not be more different from it. Argeles is big, and full of campsites, bars, amusement arcades, etc., etc,. Le Racou, which is more like a separate village, is much, much quieter. Although its one main street does have plenty of places to eat and drink, the atmosphere is completely different. It feels like going back in time. It has little old fishermen’s houses right up to the beach, and modern flats set back off said street. It also has a 5-star campground (Bois de Valmarie) in walking distance. I do recommend that camp as it has everything (restaurant, pool, spa, shop, children’s activities…) but the last time we were there we rented one of the modern flats. We did not need a car to get around, as the local authorities (Conseil General) have a ONE-EURO bus service. We went by bus to Perpignan, Port-Vendres, Collioure, Banyuls, Cerbere, Paulille (surprisingly interesting museum on the site of an old dynamite factory, and lovely little beach). We tookt the TGV from Perpignan to Girona for a day trip. (Spain is very close indeed.) I love Racou, and would go back in a heartbeat. The only minus point is the sand: along that part of the Mediterranean coast (la Cote Vermeille) it is very coarse, almost like tiny pebbles. It is also worth going inland, and taking the Little Yellow Train (le Canari) to do so. Stunning scenery! Oh, and one last thing about le Racou: they started a Jazz Festival, which was meant to be an annual event. I hope it has become that: the first one, while we were there, was drenched, on the only rainy day of that week.
