Château de Peyrepertuse
The ruins of a Cathar castle perched on an 800-meter limestone ridge, grand in scale and known as the 'Carcassonne of the sky.'
Château de Peyrepertuse sits above the village of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse in the Aude department. It was built along a narrow ridge about 300 meters long, divided into a lower castle and the highest point, the Saint-Jordi keep built by Saint Louis in the 13th century. The two sections are connected by the 'Stairway of Saint Louis,' carved into the rock face. It is the largest of the Cathar castles. From the top you can see the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. It is about 10 km from Quéribus Castle, and the two are usually visited on the same day. Admission is about €10. Opening hours change with the seasons (roughly 09:00–20:00 in summer, shorter in winter), and the site may close on very windy days. The walk up from the parking area takes about 20–30 minutes on loose gravel, so wear non-slip shoes. It is about an hour's drive from Perpignan, with little convenient public transport, so a car is recommended.
Opening hours
Hours vary by season: about 9:00 AM–8:00 PM in summer, shorter in winter; may close on windy days
Nearby sights
- Château de Quéribus
- Gorges de Galamus
- Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt
- Tautavel Prehistory Museum
- Serrabone Priory
- Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa
- Le Train Jaune
- Fort Libéria