Puilaurens Castle, Medieval fortress in Lapradelle-Puilaurens, France
Puilaurens Castle is a fortress perched on a rocky peak high above the Boulzane Valley in the Pyrenees. Its stone walls and multiple towers are arranged across the hilltop to maximize views and defensive positions.
The fortress was built in the 13th century as a refuge during the Cathar period when religious conflicts swept through the region. It later served the French crown as a military outpost, defending the frontier until the peace treaties of the 1650s ended the need for such border strongholds.
The fortress shows how medieval builders designed spaces for defense, with narrow openings and passages built into its thick stone walls. Walking through its rooms gives you a sense of how soldiers lived and worked in such a remote location.
The path up to the castle is steep and rocky, so wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a challenging climb. The fortress sits high on an isolated peak, so bring water and snacks before you go up.
The White Lady Tower contains stone tubes built into its walls that allowed guards on different levels to speak to each other without climbing stairs. This simple but clever system shows how medieval builders solved practical problems with basic engineering.
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