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Chateaupedia

Castles in Aude, France

8 open to visitors · 103 châteaux listed · Occitanie

Every château we have listed in this department, with its verification level.

We record 103 castles, manor houses and strongholds in Aude, spread across 88 towns and villages. The ones with the most visitor reviews are Château comtal de Carcassonne (open to visitors), Château de Quéribus (Quéribus Castle) (a listed historic monument), The four castles of Lastours (2,845 reviews) and Puilaurens Castle (open to visitors).

18 of them receive visitors, according to their official website or their business listing. We have checked the opening hours of 15 and the prices of 13 of them, and each entry shows the date of that check. 22 of them are listed historic monuments, the highest level of protection in French heritage law. The dominant period is the Middle Ages, with 41 buildings. Each entry says what we could verify and what still needs confirming: enough to plan a day that holds together.

The 8 castles not to miss in Aude

The most searched-for on Google and the most reviewed by visitors, among those open to visitors, with the essentials of each entry.

  1. 1

    Château comtal de Carcassonne

    Carcassonne

    At the heart of the medieval city of Carcassonne, the comtal castle is what remains of the feudal power of the Trencavel family, before becoming the residence of the royal seneschal and…

    Adult €19

  2. 2

    Château de Quéribus (Quéribus Castle)

    Cucugnan

    Standing above the village of Cucugnan in the Aude department, Quéribus castle displays its 13th-century remains on a rocky outcrop.

  3. 3

    Peyrepertuse

    Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse

    Peyrepertuse's ruins stand on a limestone ridge in the Corbières hills, nearly 800 metres above sea level, overlooking Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse from a sheer drop of 30 to 40 metres.

    Adult €9

  4. 4

    Puilaurens Castle

    Puilaurens

    Standing at 697 metres on the Mont Ardu, Puilaurens castle is one of the so-called 'five sons of Carcassonne', royal fortresses that once guarded the border with Aragon.

    Adult €7

  5. 5

    Château de Pennautier (Pennautier Castle)

    Pennautier

    A few kilometres from Carcassonne, the château de Pennautier displays its 17th-century façades in the middle of a working vineyard estate.

    Adult €10

  6. 6

    Château d'Aguilar (Aguilar Castle)

    Tuchan

    Standing on a hill above the Tuchan plain, the fortified ruins of Aguilar castle rise amid the vineyards of the Corbières.

    Adult €4

  7. 7

    Château de Termes (Termes Castle)

    Termes

    In the Corbières hills, the château de Termes stands on a rocky promontory above the Termenet gorges, close to the village.

    Adult €6

  8. 8

    Château de Puivert (Puivert Castle)

    Puivert

    Standing on a height in the Quercorb area of the Aude Pyrenees, Puivert castle spreads out a large rectangular parade ground ringed by walls and towers, dominated by a square keep dating…

    Adult €7

The 10 most beautiful castles in Aude, our selection

Coming this weekend? 14 castles open on Saturday or Sunday in Aude.

In the footsteps of history: Cathar castles

How much does it cost? 12 entry prices in Aude, including 1 free castles.

During the holidays, 11 castles open in Aude (Christmas holidays).

During the holidays, 10 castles open in Aude (February holidays).

During the holidays, 15 castles open in Aude (spring holidays).

For the spring long weekends, 13 castles open at Easter 2027 in Aude · 15 castles open for the May 2027 long weekends in Aude.

In French: Tous les châteaux de l’Aude

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Frequently asked

How many châteaux in Aude can you visit?
We record 103 châteaux in Aude, across 88 towns and villages. Not all are open: many are private properties we list for their heritage interest, and the entry says so when we know.
Which is the most visited château in Aude?
Château comtal de Carcassonne, in Carcassonne, with 14,124 visitor reviews. Actual footfall is the measure, not an editorial ranking.
How many châteaux in Aude are listed historic monuments?
22 out of 103. Listing is the highest level of protection in French heritage law; every entry links to its official record in the Mérimée database.
Where can I find opening hours?
On each entry. We know the hours of 15 châteaux in this list, read from their official website or their business listing, with the date we last checked shown.