PIGS’ brains, sea urchins and fatted goose livers. Sounds like the things little boys are made of, but in fact they’re just some of the delicacies you can find at the Palais Gourmand food festival in Perpignan.

And this is no ordinary food festival – this is a deluxe food festival, bringing together the crème de la crème of regional cuisine from France’s Languedoc region, matched with the perfect wine to go with each dish, and you can nibble and slurp to your heart’s content for a one-off entry fee of 50 euros.

Gourmet or glutton, you will be in heaven.

The event, held at the Palais Des Expositions in Perpignan every two years shortly before Easter, aims to showcase the finest chefs, produce and wine from the area and it is truly a banquet to die for.

Armed with a wine glass and knife and fork, you are let loose on stand upon stand of the finest food you will ever taste.

So whether you’re a foodie or someone who’s not sure about French food and wants to try a bit of everything, this is the place to go.

Sadly, the next festival isn’t until 2012, but it’s worth planning ahead for – and there’s plenty of time to build up an appetite.

If food and wine doesn’t float your boat, Perpignan, deep in the Catalonia region of France near the Pyrenees and the Spanish border, is still a fantastic place to visit – simply because there is something to suit everyone.

I only spent two days there and in that time, I crammed in a wide range of activities, from culture to history to wine.

For instance, just a short trip from Perpignan is the museum of dynamite in Paulilles, the first dynamite factory in France. Spotted by Swedish engineer Alfred Nobel in 1870, it became a place where more than 400 people worked for more than a century, and was built on the same workers’ village principles as Bournville in Birmingham.

Today, as well as the museum, it is a haven for rare plants and birds and the site leads down to a sheltered cove, a perfect place for a picnic.

Not far along the coast is the stunning town of Collioure, an ideal place for a wander – especially if you head into one of the wine cellars, where you can sample the local specialities. Make sure you check out Banyul, a sherry-like aperitif unique to the area.

Collioure has an abundance of cafes and restaurants, perfect for whiling away a lazy lunch break, and boasts spectacular views of its fortress in the harbour.

For the more energetic, the town also offers a variety of activities, from watersports to caving to guided walking tours of the nearby countryside.

But if sauntering around towns or working up a sweat with sports doesn’t float your boat, you could always head to nearby Ceret, again a stone’s throw from Perpignan.

Ceret has inspired the likes of Picasso, Chagall and Matisse, and as you wander through its streets, lined with pollarded plane trees, it’s easy to see why.

You won’t be able to resist a cup of coffee at a pavement café as you sit and watch the world go by.

The Museum of Modern Art in Ceret houses a wonderful collection in light, open spaces – and it isn’t so huge it’ll make your feet ache, so it’s well worth a trip!

It is hard to sum up this part of France, because there is so much on offer, but suffice to say, if all you want to do is soak up the sun and the fabulous scenery, lie on the beach or take in some culture, you can’t go wrong in Languedoc-Rousillon.

WHERE TO STAY I stayed at Hotel Mas des Arcades, 840 avenue D’Espagne, 66000 Perpignan. See www.mas-arcades.com. Light and bright, this modern hotel was perfectly situated for the centre of Perpignan and for accessing the surrounding towns and beaches. A room for two overlooking the pool or hotel gardens is 125 euros per night and includes breakfast.

HOW TO GET THERE Ryanair operates regular flights from London Stansted to Perpignan – a return flight, including taxes, can cost well under £100, depending on the season.

GETTING AROUND It would be worth hiring a car if you want to make the most of the region while you are there as there are lots of small towns worth dropping in on, if only for an afternoon. However, there is a local bus service and for a fixed fare of only a couple of euros you can travel between many of the destinations mentioned in this article. For more information, visit www.perpicat.com or www.sunfrance.com