Château de Ners, Medieval fortress ruins in Allauch, France
Château de Ners consists of the remains of a medieval fortress perched on a hilltop overlooking the Pichauris valley, featuring two square towers and thick walls. A vaulted interior room with archways and window openings survives, giving a sense of how the fortress was once organized.
A bishop of Marseille built the double curtain wall in the early 1100s to maintain control over toll collection rights in the region. The fortress was designed as part of a network that monitored goods moving through the valley.
The castle is called Castèu-Vièi in the local Provençal dialect, and the name itself reflects how this fortified place shaped the valley's identity. People here still connect the ruins to their region's medieval past.
The site sits on a hilltop and is best explored on foot, though the climb demands decent fitness. Wear sturdy footwear and allow time to view the remains from different angles around the grounds.
Beyond the two towers, traces of an extended wall spanning about 50 meters contain remnants of multiple dwellings scattered throughout. This indicates a thriving medieval settlement once existed here, far more than just a solitary fortress.
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