Château de Périllos, château médiéval
The Château de Périllos is a castle ruin perched on a hilltop in the abandoned village of Périllos, part of Opoul-Périllos in the Pyrenees-Orientales region. A square tower from the 11th century still stands with walls about 4.8 feet (1.45 meters) thick, surrounded by the remains of a defensive wall, with the northern and eastern sides reaching heights of more than 26 feet (8 meters).
The castle was built in the 11th century and served as the center of a local lordship that later became a viscounty in the 13th century. The Périllos family held significant positions in Catalan and French affairs, with this site marking the frontier between the kingdom of France and the region of Aragon.
The chapel Sainte-Barbe and the church of Saint-Michel with its Romanesque arches define the character of this place. Visitors can see statues from the 18th century and a crucifix from the 19th century inside, reflecting the religious roots that shaped life here.
Access is via a narrow and rough road from nearby Opoul, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. Wear sturdy shoes as you explore the ruins on the hillside, and note that the area is quite remote with few facilities nearby.
The castle ruins stood witness to a thriving medieval border region, yet the surrounding village was completely abandoned after the 1970s and has only recently been slowly restored by volunteer groups working in summer months. Today the site feels like stepping into a time capsule, with just a handful of occupied homes scattered among the remains and the restored cafe Le Zard.
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