Château de Puilaurens - Puilaurens Castle
Going back in time in Puilaurens...
Guided tours are available in French on Mondays to Thursdays during the summer and in English on Fridays – see website and book online.
The program of events can be found on our website.
Guided tours for groups are available in French, English, and Spanish upon request.
A royal fortress perched at 697m on its rocky spur, the Château de Puilaurens is a remarkable example of military architecture, an unmissable site in Occitanie.
From the moment you arrive, the first stones are revealed! At the end of the path, the impressive winding staircase rises, followed by the entrance gate. Eager to discover the castle's interior? Beyond the imposing gate, the main courtyard unfolds: the battlement wall, the towers with their open gorges, a secret door... These stones are steeped in history, marked by time... As for the legend of the White Lady, head to the upper castle walls...
Overlooking the Boulzane Valley, the Château de Puilaurens enjoys a protected environment amidst a fir forest. For four centuries, this castle was the southernmost fortress in France. It controlled access to the Fenouillèdes region and is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne." It exemplifies a unique model of 13th-century fortifications, commanded by a central stronghold, the city of Carcassonne, to defend a territory and the border with the Kingdom of Aragon. The fortress's adaptation to the rugged terrain demonstrates architectural prowess. It is part of a serial property nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, "The Royal Fortresses of Languedoc."
Useful information
Open every day from the end of March to mid-November.
March, April, October, November: 10am to 5pm
May, June, September: 10am to 6pm
July, August: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
20 minutes from Quillan, 1 hour from Perpignan, 1 hour 30 minutes from Carcassonne.
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