Château de Penne, Medieval castle ruins in Penne, France
Château de Penne is a castle ruin perched on a steep rocky outcrop above a loop in the Aveyron River. The site features walls, multiple towers, and a lower courtyard that spreads across the natural shape of the rocky peak.
The castle was built in the 12th century and played a key role during the Albigensian Crusade, passing through the hands of opposing forces. It fell into abandonment for centuries before reopening to visitors in the early 2000s.
The castle's name comes from Occitan language roots and refers to the elevated terrain where it sits. Today you can see how the walls and towers follow the natural ridge of rock, creating a structure that feels inseparable from the landscape itself.
The site is located in the Occitania region north of Toulouse and is easily reached from nearby roads. Access to the castle involves walking along a path that starts from parking areas in Penne.
The ruins remained largely unknown and difficult to visit for many years. A private couple took on the restoration work in the early 2000s, transforming the site into a place where visitors can walk among the medieval remains.
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