Historical sites

Located on a promontory right at the heart of the Canigou massif overlooking the village of Casteil, the abbey of Saint-Martin du Canigou was founded in 1005. Comprised of two churches built on top of each other, this abbey will charm you with its high-up cloister and square steeple decorated in the Lombard style. The abbey is still in use, and you will be welcomed by the religious community of the Beatitudes all year round.

Overlooking the town and watching over the Têt valley, the fort - built by Vauban in 1681 and reinforced under Napoleon III - awaits your visit in a perfect state of conservation. To reach it, the outdoor path or the underground route known as des milles marches (“a thousand steps”) provide panoramic views over the Conflent and the Roussillon plain. For the less sporty amongst us, shuttle buses link the town to the Fort.

The highest fortified town in France, the citadel of Mont-Louis was designed by Vauban and built between 1679 and 1681. It sits at an altitude of 1600 metres where the roads going east towards the Roussillon plain meet those going west to Spain. Visits to the town and citadel are possible all year round, and evoke the urbanisation and development of Mont-Louis from its first inhabitants to today. The town of Mont-Louis is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Fortifications of Vauban.

Located at the entrance to the deep Têt valley, Villefranche-de-Conflent has been a fortified site since the 11^th century. In order to strengthen the village’s defences, Vauban developed the mediaeval fortifications by adapting them to 17th century combat techniques, and completed the work with the creation of Fort Libéria and the development of the Cova Bastéra. The fortifications are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Fortifications of Vauban. The ramparts can be visited all year round.