The Royal Castle of Collioure

Version anglaise

A CASTLE BY THE SEA

500 years B.C. : Greek navigators used to frequent the trading post in Collioure, which became the Port of Elne, the seat of the Bishop from the 6th century onwards.

The name Collioure comes from "Cauco-illibéris", the conch, the cove of Illibéris, and the old name for Elne.

From the 13th century wine, cloth, oil, honey, wax, soap, tuna and sardines were exported from Collioure. It also had naval workshops. It was a place of exchange and passage, visited by consuls and interpreters from different countries. The merchants had to pay taxes to use the port, which was a source of wealth for the town.

It was this maritime and commercial function which gave Collioure it importance, making it the principal port in the Roussillon, and attracting the attention of successive powers.

A SHORT HISTORY

The first mention of a fortified site at Collioure was in the 7th century.

The Roussillon was conquered by the Romans around 120 B.C., and then occupied by the Visigoths from 418.

In 673, Wamba, the Visigoth king lay siege to Collioure, the "Castellum Cauclibéri", to subdue a rebellion.

In the 12th century, Girard II, the last independent Count of the Roussillon, bequeathed his lands to Alphonse II, King of Aragon and the Count of Barcelona.

Concerned about the prosperity of Collioure, the Kings of Aragon granted privileges and tax exemptions. An annual fair was established, and important works were undertaken in the castle, the port and the town.

In the 13th century, the Chateau Royal was annexed to the Kingdom of Majorque, which included the domain of Montpellier, the earldoms of the Roussillon and Cerdagne, the Conflent and Vallespir and the Balearic Islands.

The Kings of Majorque were itinerant ; they travelled with their court. They moved frequently from Maguelonne, near Montpellier, to Perpignan, to Palma de Majorque or to Collioure.

In the 16th century, after a brief occupation by Louis XI, the Spanish Habsbourgs, starting with Charles Quint, again occupied Collioure.

It was imperative that the fortifications were adapted in line with the advances in artillery, and so the castle defences and its surroundings were considerably reinforced.

In the 17th century Collioure was at stake in the wars between the Spanish Habsbourgs and the French Bourbons. In 1659, France annexed the Roussillon and Collioure and the castle passed definitively into French hands.

In 1642, Louis XIII's troops lay siege to Collioure and the Chateau Royal. 10,000 men including Turenne, d'Artagnan and the King's musketeers occupied the hills overlooking the town, while the French fleet blocked the port. Deprived of water due to the destruction of the wells, the Spanish were forced to surrender.

PLAN AND ARCHITECTURE

Periods : 13th- 14th century 15th 16th century 17th century THE CASTLE VISIT 1 Entrance Ticket Office 6 The Main Courtyard 11 The Square Tower Bastion 2 The “fausse-brai“ alley 7 The Keep bastion 12 The Chapel 3 The Keep 8 The South bastion 13 The Glacis, site of the old destroyed high town. 4 The Parade Ground 9 The Demilune, 17th century 5 The Barbican 10 Entrance to underground passages LEXICON Barbican : a fortification protecting a principal entrance. Fausse braie : a firing ground in front of the curtain wall, a part of the ramparts. Basse-cour : a place of refuge for the population inside the castle walls. Courtine à gaine : an internal gallery in the ramparts with firing positions towards the exterior.

Contact et renseignements

Château Royal de Collioure
66190 COLLIOURE - Tél : 04 68 82 06 43

Horaires d'ouverture
Horaire été : 10h à 18h - juillet/ août ouvert jusqu'à 19h
Horaire hiver : 9h à 17h - Fermé le 01/01, 05/01, 15/08, 16/08 et 25/12

webcam en direct de Collioure

Written by G. Dessain. In partnership with A. Ayats, A. Catafau.

Conseil Général des Pyrénées-Orientales 24, quai Sadi Carnot, 66009 - Perpignan Cedex - Tél. 04 68 85 85 85 Nous contacter Coordonnées