Château Royal de Collioure, Medieval castle in Collioure, France.
The Château Royal de Collioure is a medieval fortress on the Mediterranean coast with stone walls extending into the water. The structure is surrounded by defensive towers and contains royal apartments along with exhibition spaces.
The Kings of Majorca built the fortress between 1276 and 1344 as a summer residence and continuously strengthened it. It was later taken over by France and served various military purposes over the centuries.
The castle serves as a memorial to Spanish refugees who sought shelter here during the civil war in 1939. The exhibitions inside tell the stories of these people and the events they experienced within its walls.
The castle is accessible on foot from the town and tours guide visitors through royal rooms and defensive structures. It is best to wear comfortable shoes as the paths around and within the fortress are uneven and sometimes steep.
The castle contains underground galleries that are normally inaccessible and revealed through special exhibitions. These hidden tunnels and chambers show the engineering skill that went into the medieval fortress.
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