Château de Puivert, Medieval castle in Puivert, France
The castle stands at 605 meters elevation with eight flanking towers, five remaining today, and a 35-meter-tall square keep overlooking the village and lake.
Originally built in 1170, the fortress fell to Simon de Montfort's army after a three-day siege during the Albigensian Crusade in November 1210.
The minstrels' room on the fourth floor contains eight detailed stone sculptures depicting medieval musicians playing different instruments from the period.
The castle opens daily from May through early October, with reduced hours in low season, and entrance costs 7 euros for adults.
Thomas de Bruyère and Isabelle de Melun constructed the current castle in 1310, preserving Isabelle's family coat of arms from the Grand Chamberlain of France.
Location: Puivert
Inception: 1170
Elevation above the sea: 605 m
Website: http://chateau-de-puivert.com
GPS coordinates: 42.92111,2.05500
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:40
Occitanie encompasses an architectural and natural heritage that reflects many centuries of history. Medieval villages are nestled in valleys and on heights, while castles and monasteries tell of the era of the Cathars and religious orders. The region also features remarkable geological formations: deep gorges, waterfalls, potholes, and caves decorated with prehistoric paintings. Among the sites to visit, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie overlooks the Lot Valley with its stone houses and narrow streets. The Peyrepertuse fortress stands at 800 meters above sea level on a rocky spur in the Corbières. The Navacelles cirque reveals a canyon carved by the Vis River, while the Gorges de la Jonte provide trails through a habitat for vultures. The Lagrasse Abbey maintains its medieval architecture on the banks of the Orbieu, and the Niaux Cave houses Magdalenian paintings dating back 14,000 years. Natural curiosities like the Gouffre de l'Oeil Doux and the intermittent Fountain of Fontestorbes complete this territory where history and geology meet.
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