The visit starts with the botanical walking path which winds up to the castle. Native trees and plants are signposted and explained. This walk continues to climb through a series of fortified walls (chicanes) leading to the barbican.
             Because the castle played an important role in the defence of the France-Aragon border, it shows all the repertory of medieval military architecture.
            It is composed of two twin curtain-walls : the first is organised around a vast courtyard ; the second one, smaller, includes a quadrangular ‘keep'.
           The entire structure is defended by four round towers. Puilaurens stands out essentially thanks to the vestiges of its imposing walls and battlements.
          Lastly, the castle contains examples of three building campaigns : ‘French' buildings dating from the latter half of the 13th century were added around the primitive Romanesque ‘keep'. In the 17th century, these were completed by a secondary defence system.
           Explanatory panels complement the cultural landmark brochure you will receive at entry, to help you to better understand this military architecture.
             In the village, admire Saint-Laurent's church (12th and 17th centuries). The Fanges forest, former royal forest which covers 1800 hectares, offers many walking and mountain-biking circuits through the fir tree woods. A few kilometres away, visit the Aguzou cave and admire the remarkable Saint-George and Pierre Lys gorges, exceptional sites for live-water activities.