Le Soler: Culture, Nature and Astronomy

Le Soler combines historical heritage with opportunities to enjoy nature and leisure activities. If you are looking for a hotel in Le Soler, the town’s attractions can help you choose where to stay: highlights include sacred art, local history, a green space by Lac du Soler, astronomy and active leisure. These attractions are quite distinct. You can plan your visit according to whether you prefer to focus on historical sites or put nature and activities first.

Cultural History and Sacred Art

The foundation stone of the church in Le Soler was laid on 5 July 1554. The church’s artworks include the 17th-century altarpiece of Our Lady of the Rosary. It is entirely gilded with gold leaf; Jean Scriba carried out the gilding. Another altarpiece, that of Saint Assiscle and Sainte Victoire, is classified as a protected historic monument. For those interested in sacred art, the two works offer different points of interest: one features the detailed gilding described here, while the other has protected status.

The Saint-Julien wall is the only surviving southern section of the former Saint-Julien church wall; it has been restored and secured. Another way to learn about local history is Les Chemins du Patrimoine, a historical tour of Le Soler. The Maison du Patrimoine displays models that reconstruct Le Soler in prehistoric times and in the 9th and 12th centuries. The history presented therefore spans the period from prehistory to the 12th century.

The Maison du Patrimoine organizes tours for school groups and the general public. It is open to the public on the first Wednesday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. Check the opening hours and the available tour options before your visit.

Green Space and Exercise at Lac du Soler

Lac du Soler is a four-hectare green space with 344 trees from 16 different species. It also features a fitness trail more than 800 meters long, with ten strength-training and fitness stations. The size and number of trees give a sense of the green space, while the trail length and number of stations make the exercise facilities easy to picture. If you would like to include nature and activity in your travel plans, you can explore both aspects of Lac du Soler.

Astronomy and Active Leisure

On certain Tuesdays, Terre Univers welcomes visitors to the Observatoire du Soler for astronomy events, sky observations and observing evenings. Dates vary, so check when an event is taking place before visiting. Terre Univers also offers introductory courses on using astronomical instruments. This means the program offers two different ways to explore astronomy: observing the sky and learning to use instruments. Check the current arrangements for a course before booking.

The Parc aventure du Soler offers seven courses and seven ziplines; two of the ziplines cross the lake. Check opening times and the conditions of the offer before visiting. Alongside the astronomy activities, the adventure park adds another specific leisure option in Le Soler.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Prats-De-Mollo-La-Preste, Campoussy, Sournia, Saint-Laurent-De-Cerdans, Sahorre, Estoher, Saint-Paul-De-Fenouillet, Bélesta

Go to the main travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.