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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The tower of Château-Roussillon, located in the present district of Perpignan, is the only vestige of a medieval castle built in the thirteenth century. It stands on the site of the ancient ancient city of Ruscino, which became the capital of Roussillon County after the Carolingian conquest. The Comtal Castle, mentioned from the 10th century, was occupied until the 13th century, when the tower was probably erected. Its masonry pebbles and architecture suggest a defensive and communication function, with lights signaling messages between regional towers such as La Massane.

From the twelfth century, Château-Roussillon lost its political influence. In 1299 King James I offered the seigneury to Arnaud de Castelnou, before she passed into the hands of the Parapertusa in the 14th century. These Viscounts of Fenouillet made it their main residence. The tower, 20 metres high, provided a strategic view of the Tet Valley. Its oak staircase leads to a sleep platform, formerly used for light signals. In 1415, a hermitage was founded, marking a spiritual turning point for the site.

The tower changed its vocation over the centuries: the hermitage, first dedicated to Sainte-Ruffine (1577), became Santa Rafina in 1688 before being abandoned to the Revolution. In 1856, it was transferred to the town of Perpignan. Ranked a historic monument in 2012, it symbolizes today the medieval heritage of the Russillon. A local legend is associated with the troubadour Guillem de Cabestany, victim of a tragic revenge linked to the lord of Castell-Rosselló in the 13th century.

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