Le Château royal de Collioure
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#4Things to do in Collioure Pyrenees Orientales OccitanieMost reviewed in Collioure
- Visit: about 1 h
- from EUR 4
- Step-free access
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Le Château royal de Collioure is a fortified royal castle in Collioure, Pyrénées-Orientales, near the Spanish border.
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Why go
- A complex bringing together at least four castles.
- Seven centuries of construction shaped the monument into its present form.
- Feudal lords lived here before Catalan kings used it as a stop on overseas journeys.
- The castle and town were given as dowries to queens of Majorca.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00
Don't miss
- Late 17th-century defencesVauban and engineer Saint-Hilaire shaped the current entrance, bastions and half-moon.Castlelate 17th century
- Medieval castleThe medieval section dates mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries.Castle13th–14th centuries
- BarracksIn 1939, the castle became a prison and disciplinary camp for Spanish refugees; after 1941, the Vichy regime imprisoned French detainees here.Castle1939
- Digital tactile tableThe wheelchair-accessible table has a virtual tour, exhibits, a timeline, images, a puzzle and a memory game.Castle
Know before you go
- Open daily, 10:00–17:00.
- Castle enquiries: +33 4 68 82 06 43.
What's inside
- The castle enclosure hosts exhibitions, drama and dance festivals, concerts and other cultural events throughout the year.
Tips for your visit
- Pick up a paper visitor guide or download one free using the QR code.
Interesting facts1
-
2012
Archaeological excavations in 2012 uncovered remains and numerous movable objects.
Château royal de Collioure - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Between the late 13th and 17th centuries, the castle was altered and incorporated into a citadel.
- 7th c.A fortified village stood on the site.
- 673Visigoth king Wamba besieged the fortified site.
- 1207A fortification is recorded at Collioure; further building works followed in 1242 and 1272.
- 13th–14th c.The Kings of Majorca built a second castle.
- 1280Jacques II ordered houses demolished to extend the fortifications.
Show all
- 1408 and 1415Pope Benoît XIII stayed at the castle.
- 15th c.The castle became a fortress with a garrison rather than a royal residence.
- 16th c.Charles Quint and Philip II transformed it into a modern fortress, reinforcing defences against artillery.
- 1642Louis XIII’s troops besieged the castle while the French fleet blockaded the port. The Spanish surrendered after their wells were destroyed and they lost access to water.
- 1659France annexed Roussillon and Collioure, bringing the castle definitively under French control.
- 1671Creating the bastion destroyed 130 houses, public buildings, streets and the medieval enclosure.
- 1793–1794Spanish forces occupied Collioure in 1793; General Dugommier retook it the following year.
- 14 November 1922The castle gained historic-monument protection.
- 1952The castle became the property of the Pyrénées-Orientales Department.
Tours and audio guides
- Guided visit
- About 1 hour Castle guides lead commented visits. Groups can arrange a guided tour by booking with the guides.
How to get there
- BusLIO bus line 540 stops at Le Glacis.
- TrainThe TER train between Perpignan and Cerbère stops at Collioure station.
- BoatBoat shuttles reach the castle area from Argelès-sur-Mer or Port-Vendres.
- ParkingThe nearest parking is P4 at Le Glacis.
- CarTake exit 13 or 14 on the D 914 for Collioure.
Accessibility
- Step-free entry An adapted route for visitors with reduced mobility starts from the Le Glacis parking side and includes the arms square, honour courtyard, adjoining rooms and barracks.
Sources: Château Royal de Collioure - Wikipedia · Collioure - Wikivoyage (see) · Le Château royal de Collioure - Département 66 · Château royal de Collioure - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026
Where
Quai De L'Amirauté, Collioure, 66190
- Phone
- +33 4 68 82 06 43
Questions and answers
How much does Le Château royal de Collioure cost to visit?
For ticket prices, contact the castle on +33 4 68 82 06 43.
Who ordered Collioure fortified in 981?
King Lothaire, after granting the coastal lands to Guifré.
Who captured Collioure in 1344?
Pierre IV d’Aragon, after a land and sea siege.
Did a pope stay at the castle?
Benoît XIII stayed in 1408 and 1415.
Who commissioned the barbican?
Alphonse V d’Aragon commissioned a barbican before the castle gate in 1454.
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