Is there an entrance fee for the old castle of Mérindol?

No fee is indicated for this site, as access is free via a path from the village.

How long does a visit to the old castle of Mérindol take?

No duration is specified; it is an open-air ruins site explored at one's own pace.

Is the site accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?

The ground is sloped and uneven, making access difficult for visitors with reduced mobility.

What remains of the medieval castle of Mérindol?

Sections of wall, foundations, and traces of an enclosure, a keep and a chapel dating from the 13th century remain.

Vieux château de Mérindol

Mérindol

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Where: Mérindol

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Vieux château de Mérindol stands in Mérindol (Vaucluse), in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 13th century, first half of the 14th century). Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The ruins of the old castle of Mérindol stand on a rocky spur of the Luberon range, above the present-day village, overlooking the Durance valley. Sections of wall and foundations still trace the original layout of the site: a fortified enclosure, a keep set slightly back, and a chapel that later served as the parish church. Abandoned after a plague epidemic, the castrum became home to a Waldensian community in the 16th century before being destroyed during the sack of Mérindol in 1545. A memorial now stands among the ruins in remembrance of this episode.

Written from Vieux château de Mérindol

What to know

Access is free and on foot from the village, via a path climbing the hillside.
The site forms part of a hiking route dedicated to Waldensian heritage in the Luberon.
Sturdy footwear is advisable, as the ground is sloped and uneven.
The site consists of open-air ruins, with no roofed building to visit.
The monument has been listed as a historic monument since 1997.

Where this château is

Mérindol · Vaucluse · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Map of the area around Vieux château de Mérindol

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

84360 Mérindol

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

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA84000015
Period of construction: 13th century, first half of the 14th century

Itineraries

In pictures

Frequently asked

Is there an entrance fee for the old castle of Mérindol?: No fee is indicated for this site, as access is free via a path from the village.
How long does a visit to the old castle of Mérindol take?: No duration is specified; it is an open-air ruins site explored at one's own pace.
Is the site accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?: The ground is sloped and uneven, making access difficult for visitors with reduced mobility.
What remains of the medieval castle of Mérindol?: Sections of wall, foundations, and traces of an enclosure, a keep and a chapel dating from the 13th century remain.