Pyrenees-Orientales and Perpignan Christmas shooping

Give Me 5....best places for Christmas shopping

1. Perpignan's Christmas market

An annual event in the region's capital city, the Christmas market in 2011 will be set up along Quai Nobel. The traditional wooden Christmas chalets will be filled with a wide range of local traders peddling their wares and offering ideas for Christmas presents for all the family. It's always lovely to stop by for a browse and a vin chaud. And afterwards, you can take a spin around the ice rink which will once again be installed in front of the Castillet from December 4th. It's a great day out for the children and will really get you in a Christmassy mood.

2. Maison Quinta

This treasure trove of a shop is located behind the Castillet in Perpignan (rue Grande des Fabriques). I can spend literally hours browsing and lusting over the eclectic array of lovely stuff on offer from greetings cards and wooden toys for kids, to original mirrors and light shades, cookware, stripy Catalan textiles from Les Toiles du Soleil in Saint Laurent de Cerdans, adorable baby gifts and loads more. This is also the place for quirky Christmas decorations to make your tree really stand out.

3. Paradis Fouillis

For lovers of vintage, a trip to Paradis Fouillis is a must. This bric-a-brac store (17 rue de l'Ange, Perpignan) doubles up as the most charming tea shop imaginable, accessed via a pretty courtyard. There's always something that catches my eye here, whether its an original piece of glassware or the gorgeous oak carved bedside tables which we picked up on a recent visit.

4. Comtesse du Barry

After a cup of coffee, pop next door to this épicerie which sells a wonderful selection of fine foods including local specialities from the region. Here you can pick up foie gras, local tipples such as muscat and banyuls, patés, jams, terrines and much much more. So delicious you won't want to give them away!

5. Nature et Découvertes

Selling a wide range of products celebrating nature, from wildflower seeds and and essential oils, to bird feeders and hammocks this company was founded on the principles of fair trade and sustainability. Everything in the shop is carefully sourced to meet the company's eco-friendly criteria. You'll find it on the ground floor of the beautiful Dames De France building in Place Catalogne.

And a sneaky number 6:

FAB PO Christmas Market

Now in it's 4th year, this annual event has become a firm favourite in the local Christmas calendar. This year it takes place on Sunday 27th November in the Salle Polyvalente in Saint Jean Pla de Corts. Come along betwen 10am and 5pm and browse stalls packed with Christmas gift ideas, have a glass of wine and a turkey baguette at the Christmas Cafe, buy delicious English sausages as well as all those English products you miss like mince pies, crackers, Christmas cakes and much more. You might even be lucky enough to catch Father Christmas!