Practical information
The everyday addresses around the villa: doing the shopping, filling up the car, charging an electric one, getting cash. Nothing glamorous, just what you look for when you need it.
A word about opening hours: we publish almost none here. They shift with the seasons, and nothing is more irritating than a website that sends you to a closed door. The only hours given below are the ones we could verify at source. For everything else a phone call is safer, and we are happy to leave a note in the house with the current habits.
In an emergency
Medical emergencies (SAMU)
Dial 15. Round the clock.
Fire and rescue
Dial 18. Accident, fire, rescue.
Police
Dial 17.
European emergency number
Dial 112, from any phone, even without a SIM card. Use this one if you do not speak French: operators take calls in English.
Health
Duty pharmacy
Dial 3237In the evening, at weekends and on public holidays, dial 3237 or check 3237.fr to find the pharmacy on duty in the area. Premium-rate number.
Doctors' surgery (avenue du Vallespir, Laroque)
On footGeneral practice in the village, 04 68 95 47 02. A second doctor practises on allée des Figuiers.
Out-of-hours medical centre, Saint-André
12 minMaison Médicale de Garde Albères Côte Vermeille, impasse dels Milanets, 04 68 67 26 23, open in the evening until 11pm. This is the area's out-of-hours service, and genuinely good news for a visitor: finding a GP on a Sunday or a weekday evening is not easy in this part of France. Call 15 first, and the operator will tell you whether this is where to go.
Pharmacie des Albères (Saint-André)
12 minAt the Pôle Médical, 3 rue Jean Jaurès, 04 68 89 06 73. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 7.30pm. Large, well stocked, with a medical equipment shop next door, and open late: this is the one to head for when the village pharmacy has closed, or when you need more than a quick fix.
Pôle Médical des Albères (Sorède)
8 minDoctor, dentist, pharmacy and physiotherapists all on one site, rue des Fabriques. The pharmacy there is large and well stocked. Useful when the village is fully booked: prescription and medicines in a single trip.
Équipe de Soins Primaires (Villelongue-dels-Monts)
8 minThe area's health centre, carrer de la Marinada. Several GPs, a physiotherapist and a nurse.
Dental surgery (impasse des Albères, Laroque)
On footIn the village. Note that the phone number still listed in online directories belongs to the former practice.
Laroca veterinary surgery (rue de la Citadelle, Laroque)
On footThe village vet, 09 88 33 07 22. Worth knowing if you are travelling with a pet.
La Tramontane veterinary clinic (Villelongue-dels-Monts)
8 minA larger practice than a single-vet surgery, for anything serious.
Perpignan General Hospital
35 minThe reference hospital, 20 avenue du Languedoc, switchboard 04 68 61 66 33. In an emergency call 15 first: the operator directs you to the right service, which often saves the journey.
Shopping by car
Carrefour Market (centre commercial des Albères, Laroque)
7 minThe nearest supermarket, on the Argelès road. Petrol station and cash machine on the same car park, along with the village's second bakery, Le Fournil des Albères.
Carrefour Express (Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines)
6 minA small convenience store, closer than the shopping centre if you are coming from the Saint-Génis side. Open 7 am to 8 pm, Sundays included.
Utile (Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines)
6 minThe U group store, 61 avenue Maréchal Joffre. Open 7.30 am to 8 pm every day, Sundays included: the widest opening hours around, which often saves the day.
Intermarché (Saint-André)
12 minThe most complete stop nearby: supermarket, 24-hour petrol station, launderette, parcel point, cash machine, tyre inflation and car wash. If you remember one address, make it this one.
Intermarché Hyper (Argelès-sur-Mer)
15 minThe largest store in the immediate area, rue des Milans.
E.Leclerc (Le Boulou)
17 minThe only hypermarket in the area, for the big first-day shop. The Intermarché Hyper in Argelès does roughly the same job and is closer. The real reason to drive up is the filling station on route de Perpignan: it sells E85 bioethanol.
Grand Frais (Elne), due in 2027
20 minA Grand Frais is due to open on route de Latour, on the site of the old garden centre. Until then the nearest one is in Perpignan, for anyone who would rather not change their habits.
Markets around us
Argelès-sur-Mer
16 minWednesday and Saturday, rue de la République, in the old village. Down at the harbour, a farmers' market on Sunday mornings all year round.
Le Boulou
18 minThursday and Sunday from 8am to 1pm, on the Rambla and place de la Victoire.
Céret
27 minSaturday morning. The biggest and the best of them all, under the old plane trees. The one worth getting up early for.
Fuel and electric charging
Carrefour Market station (Argelès road, Laroque)
7 minThe closest station to the villa. Diesel, SP95, E10 and SP98. The kiosk is staffed Monday to Saturday from 8.45am to 7pm, but the card-operated pump runs around the clock, nights and Sundays included.
Intermarché station (Saint-André)
12 minThe nearest 24-hour station, with a card-operated pump. Diesel, E10, SP98 and E85.
Rapid charging, Power Dot (Laroque retail park)
7 minTwo 100 kW CCS Combo points on the Mr. Bricolage car park, plus a Type 2 socket. Enough to recover most of a battery while you shop.
Slow charging, Révéo (rue du Stade car park)
On footIn the village itself, Type 2 and domestic sockets. Handy for charging overnight.
Getting cash
The post office (avenue Louis et Michel Soler)
On footThe only cash machine you can reach on foot from the villa, and it is often empty.
Banque Populaire du Sud (centre commercial des Albères)
7 minBranch and cash machine.
Carrefour Market station
7 minCash machine on the forecourt, during station opening hours.
Services and getting around
Tourist office and Maison de la Randonnée
On footRue du Docteur Carboneill, in the town hall building. 04 48 98 00 09. Walking maps and guides, tickets for guided visits, the events programme, free wifi. Staff speak French, English and German. The first place to call in when you arrive.
Post office (avenue Louis et Michel Soler)
On footA full post office, 04 68 89 15 25. Weekday mornings only, and closed at weekends: check before making the trip.
Tabac presse La Désirade (avenue Louis et Michel Soler)
On footThe village newsagent and tobacconist, right next to the post office.
Laroque-des-Albères town hall
On footRue du Docteur Carboneill, 04 68 89 21 13. Closed on Mondays.
Garage and vehicle testing (zone des Albères)
7 minBes Auto Laroque, 04 68 50 51 40, with a vehicle testing centre on the same retail park. If you break down on the road, the number to call is still your insurer's.
Taxis
On callTaxi Capeille 04 68 95 33 33 and Taxi Bertrand 04 68 56 42 01. Both carry luggage and bikes, handy if you arrive by train or fly into Perpignan.
One-euro county bus
On footThe county network serves the village, stop "Laroque-des-Albères, La Poste". One euro per journey, whatever the distance.
AlberAquatic swimming pool (Argelès-sur-Mer)
16 minThe area's public pool, open all year, avenue Charlemagne. Lane swimming, lessons and a relaxation area, for a rainy day or out of season.
Electric bike hire
On footBurova Bikes, rue Maréchal Joffre, 06 40 58 02 06. The Albères campsite also hires them out.
Book your stay
Book directly online: real-time availability, secure payment, calendar synced across all platforms. On-site welcome is handled by Sud Séjour, our local concierge service, reachable for any question.