Fort Libéria
A hilltop fortress overlooking the town of Villefranche-de-Conflent, designed by Vauban, reached from town by a 1,000-step underground staircase.
The fortress was built in 1681 and, together with the town of Villefranche below, is a World Heritage Site. From the town, you can climb the roughly 734-step underground 'Stairway of a Thousand Steps' or take a four-wheel-drive shuttle to the top. Inside the fortress, exhibits cover gun emplacements, prison cells and historical stories, and from the summit you can look down over the old town and the valley. Admission is about €8.
Opening hours
10:00 AM–6:00 PM (until 7:00 PM in summer)
Nearby sights
- Villefranche-de-Conflent
- Le Train Jaune
- Canalettes Caves
- Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa
- Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou
- Pic du Canigou
- Serrabone Priory
- Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt