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Former royal fortress surrounded by garrigue vegetation and vineyards
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The castle of Aguilar is composed of two hexagonal walled enclosures. The primitive one (12th century) was composed of two rooms, one above the other. The castle-keeper's residence and the lower guards' room, which was lit and defended by five vaulted arrow-holes, are of a rare and remarkable architecture for this region. The outer curtain-wall (14th century) is flanked by six semi-circular open-at-thethroat towers, meaning without an interior wall, to thwart enemy attacks. At that time Aguilar was endowed with several defensive systems. With its towers, its shooting angles, its barbican, its system where castle defenders could hit attackers on the head as they tried to enter... Aguilar was a perfect example of a defensive layout. A traditional Romanesque chapel dedicated to St Anne stands on the outside of the curtain-wall, on the eastern side. The cradlevaulted nave is lit by two splayed windows. The castle of Aguilar and its immediate surrounds were listed as an Historical Monument in 1949.
Facing the castle, the Tauch mountain overlooks the village of Tuchan. This mountainous massif, of important ecological interest, is the highest in the eastern Corbières. It offers an exceptional view over the whole area. A landmark in bronze bears the inscription "Meridienne de France 1870” (French Meridian 1870).
Nestled on the side of Mount Tauch, the Faste chapel with its 14th century statue of the Virgin in Majesty, is the site of a legend. (Included on the supplementary list of Historical Monuments in 2004).
At its foot, the village of Tuchan hides its shady lanes, its singing rivers and tells of its rich historical past. The "rue du Fort” lane, which has kept its medieval defensive character, leads to Saint-Jean's church. This Gothic sanctuary with its vaulted ceiling with intersecting ribs (14th century) is decorated with a splendid 17th century reredos. The bell-tower has elaborate ironwork with arabesques, in the Catalan style. The plane tree ‘promenade' leads to the Hôtel des Postes, also on the supplementary list of Historical Monuments since 1992, worth a look for its Art Nouveau style.
Many tours are available by foot, mountain bike or on horse-back (near the Cathar trail), which will enable you to explore the castle of Aiguilar and its surrounds in their best light.
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Château d’Aguilar
11 350 Tuchan
phone: (+0033) 04.68.45.51.00
fax: (+0033) 04.68.45.49.97
e-mail: communedetuchan@wanadoo.fr
From the A 61 (from Carcassonne): exit 25 Lézignan Corbières, direction Thezan des Corbières, then the road D611 to Tuchan.
From the A 9 (from Narbonne): exit 40 Sigean, direction Portel des Corbières, Durban Corbières, Villeneuve les Corbières and Tuchan (D611).
From the A 9 ( from Narbonne towards Perpignan): exit 41 Perpignan Nord (Rivesaltes), at the roundabout turn right direction Vingrau and Tuchan (D12 & D39). (not accessible for coaches)
From Perpignan: Estagel (D117), after Estagel turn right direction, Tautavel / Tuchan (D611).
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