Gay Perpignan

The capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan (Perpinyà in Catalan) affirms its identity and origins. Between two worlds, the Mediterranean coastline and the Canigou mountain, Perpignan benefits from an advantageous geographical location: an almost permanent sun (300 days of sunshine a year) and a hilly, green and preserved natural landscape.

Perpignan is the third largest city in the Occitanie region after Toulouse and Montpellier, but right before Nîmes. Thousands of tourists visit every year to admire the local landmarks (Palace, cathedral, town hall, ...). Perpignan was once the capital city of the kingdom of Mallorca, in the 14th century, and these monuments reflect on this lost glory

Perpignan gay scene 

Is the 29th French city very gay-friendly? You may doubt it while strolling the narrow streets and notice the absence of gay flags on the local facades, but gays are present, even though discreet. The number of gay venues remains quite small: a gay cruising bar (Backstage) whose boss, Guillaume, struggles to move the gay scene in Perpignan since he settled in 2014, a gay sauna (l’Equateur) and some gay friendly addresses. Note the reopening in 2019 of UBA, a gay club which had closed in 2016.

Perpignan is very close from one of the hottest gay beaches in France, the gay naked beach of Bocal-du-Tech, about fifteen kilometers.

You’ll enjoy your time in Perpignan: Mediterranean climate, picturesque architecture, feverish bodegas, proximity to Spain, a world-famous rugby team, a world-famous photojournalism festival... Even if Perpignan gay scene feels quite limited, you have good reasons to come visit next time you head to the south of France!