Elne
(Catalan "Elna") is situated
riverine at the Tech-river. It lies
only 6 kms away from the Mediterranean
and has got 6500 inhabitants. Around
Elne you find numerous orchards
in which basically peaches and apricots
are cultivated. This offers a wonderful
view during the bloom.
Elne
is the eldest of all settlements all
over the Roussillon. The inhabitants
were called "Illiberis"
at that time and thus they call oneselves
in the present "Illibériens"
too.
Several
statuaries left a mark.
Georgeous artworks carved out of stone
are pleasing to the eye particularly
in the cathedral Sainte-Eulalie-et-Sainte-Julie
from the 10th century and the close-by
convent. Latin sculptures enrich the
cloister which is already stunning.
In
the cathedral itself there are two
museums: one is focused on
archaeology and the
other on history.