Paulilles is located between Cap Bear and Cap de l’Albeille and it has a cove on the commune of Port-Vendres that has a shale shore with three beaches, which are the most beautiful natural sceneries with the rocky coast that separated by the wooded promontories. The main activity in this area is fishing that has been practiced for over centuries, vine growers and shepherds are being practiced here. The Paulilles is recalled as the place of turbulent history with a past industrial site that existence over a century has an explosives factory. The factory was manufacturing nitroglycerine and rubber products around the year of 1875, and over 200 employees worked and lived on this site during that period.

The village was almost self sufficient with its church, school, wine cooperative and vegetable garden. The goods were shipped by boats from the cove where the pier is located, while explosives were stored underground in the workshop that is connected by tunnels. Accident and fatalities were common, and workers suffer a lot from working related diseases, which includes cardiovascular disorder and it was due to economical reasons that made the dynamite factory to be closed in 1984.