Castelnou

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The village of Castelnou is one of the most remarkable sites that one must discover in Catalonia, it is also classified among the most beautiful villages in France. Surrounded by two limestone causses, the Causse de Thuir and the Roc de Majorque (alt. 443 m); nestled at the foot of the Aspres, this village founded in the 10th century seems to have been forgotten by time, after having been the capital of the Viscounty of Vallespir for more than three centuries. The village still retains its medieval appearance with its ramparts punctuated by 8 towers and 4 gates arranged at the 4 cardinal points, its watchtower and its Viscount's castle built in 990 by the Viscount of Castelnou to serve as a military base for the Viscount of Vallespir. The village is organized around two parallel streets, Carrer d'Avall and Carrer del Migt. When visiting it, you will notice the presence of bread ovens, sponge cakes painted on the back of the tiles and several houses also have beautiful, well-cut stones from the castle. The fortifications largely remain, the most notable part being the Porte de Millars to the north of the village, flanked by two towers. Castelnou in Catalan means "new castle" in French