When was the château de Montalba-le-Château built?

It was built mainly between the 12th and 13th centuries, though a castle on the site is already mentioned in 1020.

Is the château de Montalba-le-Château a listed historic monument?

It has been listed as a historic monument since a decree of 21 December 1984, covering the castle and its fortified enclosure.

What remains to be seen on site?

Visitors can see a keep, two round towers, a seventeen-sided defensive wall pierced with numerous arrow slits, and a fortified gate with its belfry.

Can the château de Montalba-le-Château be visited freely?

No verified opening hours or admission fees are available for this site.

Castle of Montalba-le-Château

Montalba-le-Château

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Montalba-le-Château

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

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Château de Montalba-le-Château stands in Montalba-le-Château (Pyrénées-Orientales), in the Occitanie region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 12th century, 13th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Standing at the heart of the village of Montalba-le-Château, this stronghold, first recorded in 1020, illustrates a feudal castle that kept its original military character rather than being converted into a royal fortress like some comparable sites. Its polygonal wall, made up of seventeen straight sections pierced by more than fifty arrow slits, encloses a central core where a massive keep and two round towers still stand. Visitors can also see a fortified gate flanked by a square belfry, along with the remains of residential buildings set against the defensive structures.

Written from Château de Montalba-le-Château

What to know

The site consists of open-air fortified ruins on uneven ground at the centre of the village.
Access to the lists is via a vehicle-passable ramp or through a breach on the north-west side, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
The monument has been listed as a historic monument since 1984.
No verified information is available regarding opening hours, admission fees or accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility.

Where this château is

Montalba-le-Château · Pyrénées-Orientales · Occitanie

Map of the area around Château de Montalba-le-Château

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

66130 Montalba-le-Château

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00104048
Period of construction: 12th century, 13th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

When was the château de Montalba-le-Château built?: It was built mainly between the 12th and 13th centuries, though a castle on the site is already mentioned in 1020.
Is the château de Montalba-le-Château a listed historic monument?: It has been listed as a historic monument since a decree of 21 December 1984, covering the castle and its fortified enclosure.
What remains to be seen on site?: Visitors can see a keep, two round towers, a seventeen-sided defensive wall pierced with numerous arrow slits, and a fortified gate with its belfry.
Can the château de Montalba-le-Château be visited freely?: No verified opening hours or admission fees are available for this site.