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Origin and history

Belpuig Castle is a medieval building located in the commune of Prunet-et-Belpuig in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It stands on a hill overlooking the Trinity Chapel, at a strategic crossroads between the Tet and Tech valleys. Its architecture reflects a dual function: seigneurial protection and refuge for the inhabitants and their herds in case of danger.

In 1240, Guillaume V, Viscount de Castelnou, paid tribute to this castle in Nunyo Sanche, regent of Roussillon and Cerdagne. This first act marks its political importance in the region. In 1282 an agreement was concluded between Guillaume VI de Castelnou and Arnald de Saint-Marsal, who then held the civil and criminal courts over the inhabitants of the castle and its surroundings.

In the 14th century, the castle became a place of compulsory refuge for the local population, which must participate in its maintenance and defence. In 1353, Arnau Deç Banch was in charge of building a door, and in 1363 the chestnut was ordered to strengthen the defences. The castle changed hands several times: sold in 1373 to André de Fenouillet, Viscount of Ille and Canet, he then passed to the Pau family around 1416.

The enclosure of the castle consists of two distinct parts: a pentagonal dungeon reserved for the chestnut and a vast polygonal enclosure reinforced with towers, designed to house the population and its herds. This mechanism illustrates its role both military and community, typical of medieval castles in Roussillon.

Conflicts related to the rights of justice and pastures, such as the one between Arnald de Saint-Marsal and Jacques d'Olers in 1293, reveal the local tensions around resources and authority. At the beginning of the 15th century, the king asked the Pau family to collect the royalties of herds in transhumance towards Vallespir, stressing the economic importance of the site.

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