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Menu
  • About us
  • The house
    • RoomsThe rooms
    • Games roomGames room
    • LeFortPouzols MinervoisRooftop pool
    • View of the Canigou from Le Fort Pouzols-MinervoisThe views
    • Lower terrace Le Fort Pouzols-MinervoisThe lower terrace
    • Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois 11120Testimonials
  • The village
    • LeFortPouzols MinervoisPouzols-Minervois
    • grains dici pouzols minervoisLocal facilities
    • Cassoulet toulousainFood & drink
    • Le canigou et les vignes de CorbièresThe Canigou
  • Explore
      • Nearby
        • BeziersBĂ©ziers
        • Bram, FranceBram
        • Capestang canalCapestang
        • LeFortPouzols MinervoisCarcassonne
        • Canal du MidiCastelnaudary
        • Fontfroide AbbeyFontfroide Abbey
        • Chateau de Salses, French CataloniaFortress of Salses
        • GruissanGruissan
        • Lagrasse, Aude, Occitanie, France.Lagrasse
        • Lastours CastlesLastours
        • The medieval village of Minerve in the Minervois region of Languedoc, FranceMinerve
        • NarbonnenearPouzols MinervoisNarbonne
        • Village d'Olargues, HĂ©rault, Occitanie, FranceOlargues
        • EnseruneOppidum of EnsĂ©rune
        • PĂ©zenasPĂ©zenas
        • Roquebrun, HĂ©rault, FranceRoquebrun
        • Canal Royal et ses barques Ă  Sète, Occitanie, HĂ©rault, FranceSète
      • A bit further
        • CamargueCamargue
        • Castelnou (), un des plus beaux village de FranceCastelnou
        • Étang de ThauÉtang de Thau
        • MèzeMèze
        • Viaduc de MillauMillau Viaduct
        • AviewofthevillageofMontolieuAudeLanguedoc RoussillonFrance.Treesvalleyancienthousesandchurchbelltower.Montolieu
        • Place de la ComĂ©die Ă  Montpellier, HĂ©rault, Languedoc en Occitanie, FranceMontpellier
        • Peyrepertuse cathar castle seen from abovePeyrepertuse
        • Saint Jean de FosSaint-Jean-de-Fos
        • Train JauneLe Train Jaune
        • Saint Guilhem le DĂ©sertSaint-Guilhem-le-DĂ©sert
        • Uzès (phot: Peter Curbishley)Uzès
      • World Heritage Sites
        • canal du midiCanal du Midi
        • LeFortPouzols MinervoisCarcassonne
        • Pont du GardPont du Gard
        • Saint Guilhem le DĂ©sertSaint-Guilhem-le-DĂ©sert
      • Historic monuments
        • LeFortPouzols MinervoisCarcassonne
        • Fontfroide AbbeyFontfroide Abbey
        • Chateau de Salses, French CataloniaFortress of Salses
        • Lastours CastlesLastours
        • EnseruneOppidum of EnsĂ©rune
        • Peyrepertuse cathar castle seen from abovePeyrepertuse
        • Pont du GardPont du Gard
        • Saint Guilhem le DĂ©sertSaint-Guilhem-le-DĂ©sert
      • Cathar country
        • BeziersBĂ©ziers
        • Bram, FranceBram
        • LeFortPouzols MinervoisCarcassonne
        • Lastours CastlesLastours
        • The medieval village of Minerve in the Minervois region of Languedoc, FranceMinerve
        • Peyrepertuse cathar castle seen from abovePeyrepertuse
      • Areas and attractions
        • CamargueCamargue
        • canal du midiCanal du Midi
        • Étang de ThauÉtang de Thau
        • Viaduc de MillauMillau Viaduct
        • Valras PlageTo the beach
      • Activities
        • Flyzone skydivingSkydiving
        • vineyards languedocWine tasting
  • Contact

Fortress of Salses

A 16th century fortress in French Catalonia

Innovative

The fortress was built very quickly between 1497 and 1502 by the great Spanish architect Francisco Ramiro Lopez for King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain to control the narrow route between the Corbières Hills and the coast on the old border between France and Catalonia.

The architecture and layout of the Fortress of Salses were innovative at the time. It is a transition in military architecture between medieval castles and modern fortresses.

Sieges

The fortress at Salses cost 500 kg of gold, 20{dad2043e29fe7a95205858f4aee3eccfeae41a5ccda41d2c2c245dff5abd53c0} of the budget of Castile. It faced the French fortress of Leucate, now destroyed. Salses was besieged, conquered and reconquered in 1503, 1639, 1640. Finally, in 1642 the French took control of the fortress.

After the treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659, the new borders between Spain and France meant that Salses lost its strategic importance. Plans to demolish it were dismissed as too expensive. It was partially restored by the famous French military engineer Vauban from 1691.

Visiting the Fortress of Salses

Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois to the Fortress of Salses takes about an hour by car (42 miles, 68 km). The fortress is clearly visible from the A9 motorway. Around 100,000 people a year visit the fortress.

The listed monument is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Information on opening hours, directions and entry fees is available at www.forteresse-salses.fr.

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    Le Fort Pouzols-Minervois
    11 Rue du Fort
    11120 Pouzols-Minervois
    Aude
    France

    Telephone +33 (0)9 77 21 84 62
    info@le-fort-pouzols-minervois.fr
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