The Padern castle (fr. Château de Padern) is a ruined castle in the commune of Padern in the Aude département. It is part of the so-called Cathar castles of France.
The castle is little known in the area, because it did not play a very important part during the crusade against the Albigensians, unlike the neighbouring castles of Termes, Queribus or Peyrepertuse.
The exact year of construction is not known, but the village of Padern is recorded in 899, when Charles III, known as Charles the Simple, ceded the territory to Lagrasse Abbey, while the latter still belonged to the Counts of Toulouse, and not to the crown of France.
Coordinates: 45°52′30″N 2°39′20″E
