Château de Saissac, Medieval castle in Saissac, France.
The stone fortress stands on a rocky promontory at the southern edge of Saissac, overlooking the Vernassonne river and Carcassonne plains.
First documented in 960, the castle changed ownership during the Albigensian Crusade in 1229 when Bertrand de Saissac lost it to Bouchard de Marly.
The castle exhibits architectural elements from different periods, including a 13th-century tower and Renaissance modifications made by Jean de Bernuy.
The municipality manages guided tours through restored sections of the castle, including access to underground cellars beneath the medieval keep.
A treasure of 2,000 medieval pennies dating from 1250-1270 was discovered during construction work near the castle in 1979.
Location: Saissac
GPS coordinates: 43.35694,2.16797
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:46
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.
Les Cammazes dam
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Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Villelongue
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Prise d'Alzeau
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Moulin à papier de Brousses
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Château de Ferrals
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Église Saint-André de Montolieu
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Pierre levée de Picarel
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Chaussée de Coudières
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Croix de cimetière de Saint-Martin-le-Vieil
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Croix de Montolieu
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Remparts de Saissac
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La Coopérative Musée Cérès Franco
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Église de l'Assomption-de-la-Sainte-Vierge de Brousses Hautes
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Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Arfons
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Musée des vieux métiers de Saissac
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Chapelle Saint-Étienne de Villaret
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Église Saint-Martin de Villemagne
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Église Saint-Michel de Saissac
143 m
Saint Martin church of Saint-Martin-le-Vieil
7.2 km
Église Saint-Étienne de Villaret
5.6 km
Les Cammazes lake
8 km
Église de la Nativité de Villespy
7 km
Vestiges de l'abbatiale Sainte-Marie de Saint-Martin-le-Vieil
5.7 km
Chapelle Saint-Roch de Saint-Martin-le-Vieil
7.1 kmReviews
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