Cadaqués in Spain, the new Eldorado for the French, close to the border

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On the Costa Brava, it's hard to miss. At the end of the beautiful village of Cadaqués , its white houses and narrow streets make it a paradise for French tourists. A family from the Var region is spending two days in this old fishing village for the All Saints' Day holiday. The Church of Sainte-Marie and the typical blue shutters are enough to leave a lasting impression.

" It's very, very pretty. We are pleasantly surprised. Here we are, walking around the old town. It's charming as can be, full of bougainvillea, the little village all white ," rejoices Myriam Biville, on holiday in the village.

Just an hour from the border, Cadaqués offers a complete change of scenery. The weather is pleasant, even at the end of October, and it attracts many French people who come to visit and enjoy this little corner of Spain. " Everyone is French. Cadaqués is like New France ," jokes a restaurant owner.

A group of friends has come from Toulouse to eat the famous tapas. They've known Cadaqués for 15 years, before the restaurants started offering attractive prices. But the bill has become much higher in recent years. " It's gone up a lot. It's now a little cheaper than in France, but it's practically the same price ," says Elodie Le Gall, a French tourist. What's so special about Cadaqués? "The sun, the accessible sea. It's still 18°C ​​today, so it's pretty cool for the end of October," replies another Frenchman.

While some brave souls come to swim in this sheltered bay, most visitors are drawn by the surrounding cultural attractions. The house where Salvador Dalí lived for much of his life, in a series of former fishermen's huts joined together over time, is a must-see. Visitors can explore his studio and bedroom, with their inspiring sea views.

For a French couple on holiday here for a few days, this visit was an absolute must. Art permeates every corner of the painter's gardens, from whimsical works to the swimming pool decorated according to the artist's taste. " It's actually quite fun to visit; it's not something you're used to seeing, there's all sorts of things there ," says Mickaël Fernandez.

A house that draws you in, even from the sea. On a traditional Catalan boat, about twenty tourists have come to see Cadaqués and its surroundings from a little further afield. Two hours by boat for 25 euros. And just a few minutes away, the Cap de Creus Natural Park unfolds. Thirteen thousand hectares, protected and admired. " It's incredibly peaceful to spend time like this, watching the sea, listening to the sound of the waves, admiring the coastline. So it's really very relaxing ," exclaims a French boater.

A wild coastline that the authorities want to protect from over-tourism. In the summer, the village of Cadaqués attracts up to 30,000 visitors a day, ten times more than its number of inhabitants.