Château d'Aguilar

Tuchan, France

The Château d'Aguilar is one of the so-called Cathar castles. The design of the castle witnesses the practical military thinking of the 12th century. The castle consists of an inner keep built in the 12th century, surrounded by an outer pentagonal fortification from the 13th century. This fortification is oriented such that its point guards the side most favourable to attackers. The keep and the inner hexagonal fortification is flanked at each corner with semi-circular guard towers, each equipped with archery outlooks. The strategic location of the castle on a hill overhanging the plain of Tuchan allows supervision of the Corbières. Despite this, the castle is easily accessible from the plains because of its relatively low elevation of 321 metres.

There is a small underground chapel of Saint-Anne below the keep.

The earliest building at this location belonged to the count of Fonnollède since 1021. In the 13th century, the keep that had replaced earlier buildings was bequeathed by the viscounts of Carcassonne to their vassal, the Ternes.

In 1210, it was invaded and occupied by Simon de Montfort, whose soldiers took and held the owner Raymond de Termes in a dark dungeon in the Carcassonne. Militarily, the castle lay dormant for the next 30 years, until Raymond's son Oliver de Termes took back the castle in the brief revolt against the crusaders. Aguilar became the refuge of many faydits, Cathar knights and lords without strongholds. In 1246, a royal garrison was installed to supervise the Aragon frontier.

Olivier, however, eventually made an alliance with king Louis IX, who purchased the castle from him in 1260. Despite the heavy fortifications, the castle would be continually under siege by opposers to the French or Spanish rulers until the 16th century.

When the border was pushed back to the south of Roussillon by the treaty of the Pyrenées, the castle gradually lost its strategic importance, and was eventually abandoned in 1569. Today it is in decrepit condition. Since 1949, it has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

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Tuchan, France
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Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Ivan Le Fevre (15 months ago)
A wonderful atmospheric castle, with great views towards the Pyrenees.
no body (16 months ago)
Not worth the 5€. Couple un maintained ruins, and the view isn't that great. According to Google, they open at 10 AM, was there at 10:10, no one at the cashiers. So free entry. Half an hour visit to the castle is enough. 10:35, when I left, whole lot of people there, still closed. So come early and you can go for free. Large parking on gravel at the end of the small road!
Miklos Tomka (16 months ago)
Fantastic scenery, impressive fortress ruin. 10 euro entry for a family of 4 - very reasonable. Recommended!
Glenn Jones (17 months ago)
The ticket office was to open at 10:30 - we waited until 10:45 before deciding to continue to the Château. No problems - the site was completely accessible without a ticket (but if the office is open, of course pay for entry - these sites aren't maintained for nothing! The Château is, of course, nothing but ruins. Besides that, wonderful views of the corbières countryside.
Roy Deridder (2 years ago)
Some ruins of a castle, with a beautiful trail around it. Castle has an entry fee, but the trail is free
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