The village and castle of Castelnou is around 25 mins. drive from Perpignan.  Follow the route to Thuir from La Tour Apollinaire off the N9 then the signs to Castelnou after Thuir.

The castle, which stands above the village and dates from the period 988-990, served as a military centre and a chief town of the viscountcy of Vallespir. It represents one of the best examples of a medieval fortress left in Roussillon. The castle fell into ruin at the end of the 18th century and was extensively restored towards the end of the 19th century The castle is open to the public everyday between 10.00a.m. and 8p.m.

Within the castle you can find the restaurant 'Le Vicomte' which has menus starting from around 20 Euros, though we prefer the restaurant 'L'Hostal'down in the village where you can find special Catalan dishes. During summer you can eat outside on its terrace, which provides a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside.

The village of Castelnou is also most attractive and it is well worth a walk around it's steep narrow streets. Many of the old houses have been recently restored, so it has become quite a fashionable place to live. When visiting the castle or village it is necessary to park in one of the public car parks just on the edge of the village and walk into the centre as cars are not normally allowed into the narrow streets.