Argelès-sur-Mer is the most important seaside resort on the French Catalan coast. Surrounded on one side by the Mediterranean and its 4.35 miles (7 km) of beach and on the other by the Albères massif, the town extends 12.43 miles (20 km) south of Perpignan. It benefits from one of the sunniest regions of mainland France, where the Pyrenees plunge into the sea. Argelès-sur-Mer is also known for its vineyards and its terroir created by the combination of unique sunshine and the cold, dry winds that sweep the territory.