Aguilar

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Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Aguilar dates back to the year 1020 and its name seems to be linked with the latin word "aquila" meaning "eagle".

After the crusade against the Albigeois, the castle falls into the hands of the french King. It is in fact for the french army a strategical position because it stands just in front of the recent border with the Aragonese Territory.

In 1260, the castle becomes a royal fortress, and is considered as one of the 5 sons
of Carcassonne.

Unfortunately, in 1659, the Treaty of the Pyrénées drives the franco-spanish border along the Pyrénées ridge.


Opening times and additionnal information :

The castle is open
- from the 1st of April to the mid-June (10am-6pm)
- from the 19th of June to mid-September (9am-7pm)
- from the 11th of September to mid-November (11am-5pm)
The castle is closed from mid-november to the end of March.

Entrance Prices :

Adults : 3,50 €
Children (from 10 to 15) : 1,50 €
Under 10 : FREE
Groups (from 10 persons on reservation only) : 11,50 €/person

Email : communedetuchan@wanadoo.fr

Arques

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Shortened history of the castle:

The castle was mentioned for the first time in 1011, but the original lords of Arques were dispossessed in the 12th century in favour of the powerful family of Terme
In 1217, Simon de Montfort, chief of the Crusaders against the Albigensians, apparently took and burned the castle and the village. Then, in 1231, he gave the lands of Arques to his lieutenant, Pierre de Voisins. In 1265, this new lord of Arques made a terrible impression by condemning a 60-year-old woman, accused of witchcraft, to be burned alive in the village.

At the end of the 13th century, his son, Gilles de Voisins, rebuilt the town as a bastide (planned town) and started the construction of the present castle. His own son, Gilles II, finished the construction in 1316.

The castle was sold as national property during the French Revolution and sustained some damage. It was listed as an Historical Monument in 1887.

Opening times and addtionnal information:

Closed in January, february and December

March, October, November : 10:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-5:00pm
April to June, September : 10:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm
July and August : 10:00am-7:00pm

Fees
Adult: 5 €
Child: 2 €
Reduced: 4 €

Group Prices (10 people minimum)
- simple visit: 3.50 €
- guided tour (on reservation only): 5.50 € / person

Email: site.arques@wanadoo.fr

Salses

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In 1497, Ferdinand V of Spain wants to lock the narrow passage between the foothills of the Corbières and ponds that were impassable at the time and that was the only route from the Aragonese region to the north (France).

In 1538, the fortress was finaly completed and was honored to receive the visit of Charles V himself.

During the following century it had to endure numerous attacks but properly carried out its role of defending North borders.

But on July 20th, 1639, after 40 days of resistance, the fortress falls into the hands of those who were called at the time "the best regiments of the Kingdom of France" under the command of Henry II of Bourbon.

But only a few weeks after the French troops had invaded the foretress, they were besieged on the 1st of September 1639. During months and months, French regiments confined in the fortress opposed a stubborn resistance to the Spanish troops seeking to recover their property. The French troops, starving to death, decided to surrender in January 1640.

From that time, the fortress was about to disappear several times but was destruction was finnaly abandonned, at each time, and this is why it remains today in perfect shape.

Opening times and additionnal information :

June 1 to September 30: 9:30 am to 19h
October 1 to May 31: 10am to 12.15pm and 14h-17h
Last visit 1 hour before closing the site

Closed
1 January, 1 May, 1 and November 11, December 25

Contact booking groups:
resa.salses @ monuments-nationaux.fr

Full price: 7 €
Price: 4,50 €
Group of adults: 5,50 € (from 20 persons)
School groups: 30 € (35 people maximum, 20 € for PTA)

Free:
Under 18 (accompanied by an adult)
18-25 (nationals of 27 countries of the European Union and non-European residents regularly on French territory)
Disabled person and their companion
Jobseeker

Carcassonne

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Beautifully maintained, the city of Carcassonne is primarily known as a fortified medieval town, but this rocky outcrop has been occupied by man since the sixth century BC, first as a Gallic settlement, then a Roman town with ramparts from the III - IV century AD (Gallo-Roman towers still visible).

On the west side of this primitive fortification rests the castle built in the XIIth century by the Viscounts Trencavel. In the early thirteenth century, Carcassonne was taken by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade, then annexed to the royal domain. The fortification works are continuing throughout the thirteenth century with the construction of the outer wall and the modernization of the inner rampart, making this place a fortress impregnable.

It lost its strategic importance after the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. In the second half of the nineteenth century, it is the subject of a huge restoration project led by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc and is listed by the UNESCO list of World Heritage Site since 1997.


Opening times and additional information :

-July and August: from 9 to 19h (everyday)
-April, May, June, September and October: from 9am to 18pm Monday to Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9h to 13h
-From November to March: from 9am to 18pm Monday to Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9am to 12pm

14th of July: each year, the Fireworks of Carcassonne which illuminate the castle are seen by more than 200,000 spectators.

Mail : accueil@carcassonne-tourisme.com