The Aguilar castle (fr. Château d’Aguilar, Languedocien: Castèl d’Aguilar) is a 12th-century castle, part of the so-called Cathar castles, located in the commune of Tuchan in the Aude department of France (Occitania).
It’s a double-walled defensive castle, with enclosing wall and keep, surrounded by a second wall a bit lower on the hill, complete with round towers. It’s a ruin but in very good condition.
In 1241 Aguilar became a Royal fortress. The outer defensive wall was added to Aguilar castle at the end of 13th century. The castle was very well fortified, but it sat on a hilltop that was relatively low (321 m) and accessible, and came under periodic attack over the following centuries.
Aguilar is one of the “Five Sons of Carcassonne“, along with Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Termes and Puilaurens: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish, until the border was moved in 1659.
Coordinates: 42°53′26″N 2°44′49″E
How to get to?
From Paris: 8 hr 24 min (833 km) via A71 and A75
From Toulouse: 2 hr (170 km) via A61
From Andorra: 3 hr 14 min (189 km) via N116
From Barcelona: 2 hr 38 min (226 km) via AP-7
From Madrid: 8 hr 23 min (831 km) via A-2, AP-2 and AP-7
From Monaco: 5 hr 8 min (482 km) via A8 and A9
From Moscow: 36 hr (3,407 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 17 hr 24 min (1,786 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 28 hr (2,735 km) via E70
From Bern: 7 hr 18 min (740 km) via A9
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
