Medieval military mountain castle overlooking Puilaurens-Lapradelle, the southernmost in the kingdom of France for a long time
At the gateway to the Fenouillèdes region stands the fortress of Puilaurens, a true masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Perched on a rocky ridge, at an altitude of 697 m, it dominates the village of Lapradelle, the Boulzane valley and rises above a dense forest of fir trees. It was for a long time the most southern sentinel fortress of the Kingdom of France. Puilaurens is mentioned as early as 985, but most of the fortifications still visible were built between the 12th and 13th centuries: walls, barbicans and machicolations, towers, residential buildings, cisterns... remind us of the essential defensive role played by Puilaurens on the frontier between France and the kingdom of Aragon until the 17th century. With Peyrepertuse, Quéribus, Aguilar and Termes, Puilaurens protected the border. These five fortresses are also called the "Five Sons of Carcassonne" for their strategic position. In 1659, Puilaurens lost its military interest with the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees and the royal fortress was gradually abandoned to the assaults of wind and weather. A rocky path, converted into a botanical trail, leads to the first low walls and leads to the castle. Signs placed on the site, in addition to the cultural guide given to you at the reception desk, will help you to better understand this military architecture. This castle is the best preserved, architecturally, of all the citadels of the Aude... and contains a legend, that of its "White Lady"...
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