In the Footsteps of the Smugglers

By walking along one of the most beautiful sections of the coastal trail, follow in the footsteps of the smugglers of Banyuls and their municipal smuggler's republic between 1780 and 1850.


Take the coastal trail that runs along the beach of the former heliotherapy center (known locally in Banyuls as "Sana Beach").
Further along, note the proud and towering rock formation called Castell de Velut ("Velvet Castle"). It owes its name to an incident where customs officers discovered a piece of Genoese velvet hidden by smugglers in a crevice of the rock.The trail winds along the cliffside, overlooking Crique dels Tamarius ("Tamarisk Cove") and Crique de la Pistoline, known for its swirling whirlpools (remolinats).
A bit farther, just before reaching Cap Ullastrell, you’ll find Anse de la Felouga. Here, in 1833, Banyuls locals set fire to the customs felucca Lynx using thorny brushwood.
The trail continues to Le Fourat ("The Hole"), passing by some old fishermen's houses and a beach.
Eventually, it leads to the Paulilles site, where the Nobel dynamite factory and workers' village were once located. Today, visitors can explore a museum, a workshop for Catalan boats, an exhibition hall, and the Director's Garden, filled with exotic trees and flowers.

The coastal trail extends northward to Argelès-sur-Mer and southward to Cerbère. Beyond the border, it connects to the GR92, which continues all the way to Roses and beyond.