Citadel of Perpignan, Military fortress in Perpignan, France.

The Citadel of Perpignan is a hexagonal fortification with six bastions, red brick walls, and two entrance gates that control access from the city and surrounding countryside. The fortress sprawls across a substantial area with various interior zones, including military buildings and a former royal palace.

Construction of the fortress began in 1477 under Louis XI of France, and it underwent major expansions under Charles V. In the late 1600s, the military engineer Vauban redesigned large portions to modernize the defenses for the era.

The Palace of the Kings of Majorca stands within the walls and reminds visitors of when Perpignan served as the capital of that kingdom. The rooms and structures still reflect the medieval power that once centered here.

The citadel sits on a small hill 20 to 30 metres above most of Perpignan, at the southern edge of the old town, so the approach is uphill. The northern bastion holds the Jardin des Plantes created in the late 18th century for the University of Perpignan. Parts of the complex have passed to non-military uses since the 18th century, so check which sectors are open before setting out.

The 16th-century works demolished a thousand dilapidated houses for the bastions, and the old Santa Clara convent was pulled down because it stood where the new rampart had to pass; a replacement convent was built outside the walls. The medieval parish church of Saint-Matthieu and the old Capuchin convent also disappeared.