Castle of Canet-en-Roussillon

The Castle of Canet-en-Roussillon is a ruined fortress featuring a trapezoidal enclosure built from pebbles and brick, reinforced by a round tower on the western side. The site shows the defensive building style typical of medieval coastal fortifications in this region.

First documented in 1013, the fortress became the seat of the Canet viscounty during the 12th century under the name Castellum de Caned. It served as an important administrative center for the region for several centuries.

Saint Martin Chapel inside features a Lombard arcade along its apse and once served as the parish church from the 11th to 16th centuries. The building remains a focal point of the site and shows how religious and defensive structures were often combined.

The site is open to visitors who can freely explore the ruins and view the structures from different angles on foot. Sturdy footwear is recommended as you walk across uneven ground and around the ancient stone walls.

Hidden between the chapel and the northern curtain wall is a 17th-century underground ice house topped with a dome. This underground structure reveals how medieval fortifications served practical purposes beyond defense, such as food storage.