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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Querroig Castle, also called Querroig Tower, is a medieval fortified site in ruins, perched at an altitude of more than 670 m on the ridge line between France (Pyrénées-Orientales) and Spain (Catalonia). Mentioned since 981 under the name Cario rubio, it became a castrum in 1385 under the name Carroig. This watch post, built between the 13th and 14th centuries, was part of the defensive network of Majorca kings to monitor the valleys and communicate with other towers such as the Madeloc tower.

Abandoned from the 16th century, the castle fell into ruins but remains a symbol of cross-border heritage. Its remains include a round tower with signals and a rectangular dungeon, surrounded by partial fortifications. The site, listed as a historic monument in 2016, is now owned by the French State, the municipality of Cerbère and the Generalitat de Catalunya, reflecting its shared history.

The tower, cylindrical in shape with walls less than 1 m thick, was protected by a 44 m (north-south) and 35 m (east-west) enclosure. Its strategic role made it possible to control the Pyrenean passages between the two slopes. The current remains, some of which may date from the 16th-17th centuries, testify to its importance in the medieval defensive system.

The castle is located on a peak marking the boundary between Banyuls-sur-Mer, Cerbère (France) and Portbou (Spain). Its simple architecture, adapted to its signalling function, makes it a typical example of the border fortifications of the era. The French part of the site has been protected since 2016, including the remains and surrounding soil.

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