Château de l'Empéri, Medieval castle and military museum in Salon-de-Provence, France

The Château de l'Empéri is a medieval castle perched on a rocky outcrop above Salon-de-Provence in southern France, classified as a historical monument and home to both an art museum and a military museum. The site consists of several courtyards, terraces and buildings from different periods, arranged around a central main courtyard.

Built in the 9th century on the rock of Puech, the castle was the residence of the archbishops of Arles and of the Holy Roman emperors, from whom its name derives. In 1481 it passed to the kings of France and was altered in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the Revolution it served as a prison and barracks, was little damaged by the 1909 earthquake, and was restored from 1926.

The Château de l'Empéri holds one of the largest collections of military objects in France, with uniforms, weapons and equipment ranging from the First Empire to the First World War. Visitors can follow the story of the French army through concrete objects displayed inside the old halls of the castle.

The castle sits on a hill at the heart of Salon-de-Provence and is reached on foot through the narrow streets of the old town. The climb involves steps and sloped paths, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.

The Jardin des Simples, named for the medicinal "simples" it grows, is planted with common Provençal hill herbs that Nostradamus used in his recipes for cosmetics, dyes and preserves. The Nostradamus museum itself lies outside the walls, at the foot of the castle.