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Canet en Roussillon-From the bronze age to the bronzing season
The first traces of human life at Canet-en-Roussillon date back to the Bronze Age, between 1000 and 700 B.C. Later, the Romans and Visigoths developed the site. Afterwards, the town endured constant border wars in the same way as Argelès. It was only at the end of the Second World War that Canet was able to take advantage of its seaside location, long before many others.
Historians differ on the origin of the name Canet. Some say that Canna comes from the word reed, like Provence cane. Others maintain that it comes from a distortion of the name of the Iberian tribe who lived on the site, the Kynetes. Others assert that its name was formed by the combination of the words Kan (“height” in the primitive Indo-European language) and the Latin diminutive suffix Ittum (“little”). The “little height” would appear today to be the most favoured possibility. So as to avoid upsetting anyone, we could say that Canet means “the-little-height-where-the-Kynetes-lived-in-the-reeds”, which is after all a very pretty description of the place.
But well before Canet had a name for itself triggering off a series of etymological controversy, men from the Bronze Age lived on the site. Archaeologists have found axes, jewellery, swords and a number of earthenware tools. It was customary between 1000 and 700 B.C. to bury the dead in huge jars, with their usual objects, in cemeteries which were called urn fields. There are two such fields in Canet. Le first one, at Mas Bellevue, is now buried under a housing estate and the second, at Champs des Hospices… is under the motorway. The jars are buried at a depth of 70 cm and they are surrounded by a number of objects. When the ‘Tar & Concrete’ Age is over, we will be able to excavate them!
The Romans created the port called the Ruscino port. It was the capital of Roman administration. 
This meant that the goods exported and imported from the principal Mediterranean cities passed through Canet or Port Vendres. The port enjoyed an important economic activity. Unlike other neighbouring villages, Canet was densely populated quite early in its history. There are vestiges of houses and tanks from Roman times. They were then followed by the Visigoths as can be seen by the funeral relics found.
But the history of Canet, as we know it today, began in the 11th century. It was mentioned for the first time in 1013 under the name of Castellum de Caned.
The first lord of Canet was called Raimond Bérenger. The count of Empuries, Gausfred II gave him “Various security and guarantees for a portion of the town of Toreilles and for the castle of Canet”. Historians believe that the construction of the castle was carried out slightly before the donation. Raimond Béranger was the suzerain of about ten knights. Here is a list of his land: thevillage, the port, the Esparou, Saint Michel de Forques, Sainte Marie de Pabirans (now known as Sainte Marie la Mer), Sainte Anne and Vilarnau, which became independent but which disappeared too quickly for it to be a commune. Pierre Raimond and Guillaume 1st reigned one after the other. The latter took part in the first crusade with Guinard, count of Roussillon. Their presence was mentioned during the Siege of Antioche in 1098 and the Siege of Jerusalem in 1099.
During this time, the lands of the Lord of Canet grew. Thanks to the port, the region developed trade. The inhabitants became wealthy thanks to the vineyards (planted as early as the 11th century),
the salt marshes and then thanks to its trade with Perpignan.
Several centuries of conflict were to follow. The kingdoms of Aragon and Majorca fought over this land and Canet, like Argelès, was directly affected by this war as it was indeed affected by other wars between the Spanish and the French, the Spanish and the Spanish, the Catalan and people from Aragon…
The town, which became a commune in 1789, entered the Bronzing Age as early as 1946. It developed due to sea bathing well before the ‘Mission Racine’ (The ‘Mission Racine’ was entrusted with the development of tourism along the 160 kilometres of Languedoc coastline) which created a number of seaside resorts on the coast in the 1970s.
