Top 10 things to do in Salses-le-Château

Top 10 things to do in Salses-le-Château

1- The Fortress

The fortress is the must-see site to visit in Salse-Le-Château. Built at the end of the 15th century by the Spanish, this fortress features a particularly original architecture. Its role was to control the narrow passage between the Corbières and the ponds before serving as a prison and then as a powder magazine. It has an ingenious defense system, walls more than ten meters thick at their base, built of bricks and mortar, served by labyrinths of galleries... The visit begins with the parade ground surrounded by the chapel, stables and main buildings. It could accommodate up to 1,500 men and 100 horses. As for the terraces, they offer a breathtaking view of the ponds, the Mediterranean Sea, the Corbières and Mount Canigou.

Prices:

• Adults: 8 euros;
• Free for children under 18.

2- A game to discover the fortress

To explore the magnificent fortress of Salse-le-Château while having fun with family or friends, there's the "Pièges à la forteresse" mobile app. This free app is based on history and heritage and allows you to learn while having fun. It's a geolocated historical investigation game to discover the fortress in a fun way. The mission is accessible for free from the Altantide app. It will take you approximately one hour to complete your mission.

3- The Salses-le-Château pond

This pond is an aquatic ecosystem preserved by the hand of man. It is a pond of marshy origin and the violent Tramontane wind follows the contours of the Corbières to blow on the water. It is this wind that ensures the purge of the pond of the various silts that pile up. Fishing is not permitted, but the site is charming, vast and wild. It is an ideal destination for a walk along the signposted paths or for a peaceful jog admiring the flamingos and other wading birds that come to make a stopover there.

4- The Rivesaltes Camp Memorial

To commemorate the dark years of the 20th century, the Memorial was built on a former island of the Rivesaltes camp. This former military camp was an internment camp, a guarded residence for collaborators, a prisoner depot, and a place of relegation for the Harkis and their families. Amidst the remains of the barracks, this 4,000 m² building is a landmark in the history of population deportations. The Rivesaltes Camp Memorial displays its history over more than 1,000 m². Temporary exhibitions, conferences, and screenings are offered throughout the year.

Prices:

• Adults: 9.5 euros;
• Reduced rate: 6.5 euros;
• Free for children under 18

5- The chapel of Garrieux

Near the pond, the place called Salses is a hamlet of about ten houses. You can admire a Romanesque chapel sheltered under the pine trees. The site is of Roman origin and excavations have uncovered amphorae, Roman coins and ceramics. In the late Middle Ages, only the chapel existed and was transformed into a hermitage. The current building dates from the 16th century and has undergone extensive restoration work. Lost in the middle of vineyards and orchards, among Catalan farmhouses, it is an ideal place for a walk or a picnic.

6- The gateway to the Catalan Countries

For a beautiful walk, above Salses le Château, there is the Porte des Pays Catalans . It is the symbol of Catalan identity, the first and last landmark for travelers. It is a door open to the horizon, imposing and original. It was inaugurated in 2003 on the Corbières plateau and materializes the entrance to four doors in reference to the four bars of the Catalan shield. At its feet is installed a rose of the eight winds of the country.

7- The largest karting circuit in the world

The Grand Circuit du Roussillon is the largest karting circuit in the world ! It welcomes you every day for car, motorcycle, and karting activities. It's the ideal place to satisfy your desire for speed, thrills, improvement, or simply to have fun in complete safety, whatever your age or level. There are offers for all ages, from three years old with the Baby Kart but also the Mini Kart Alpha for 7-13 year olds, the Birel from 14 years old, the SodiKart RT8 from 16 years old, or the SodiKart RRT8 from 16 years old. Sessions last 10 minutes on a 1513-meter track with seven possible layouts and a width of nine meters.

Prices:

• Sodikart RT8 from 16 years old: 23 euros;
• Birel: 18 euros;
• Mini Kart Alpha: 15 euros;
• Baby Kart: 10 euros

8- Take a break at the Café de la Loge

The Café de la Loge in Salses-le-Château was built in the 19th century. Its interior design is remarkable, and guests can enjoy traditional Catalan cuisine. Its simple, functional façade houses a large rectangular room, at the far end of which are two flights of stairs. The walls are adorned with panels and mirrors in various styles, including Renaissance putti and Regency-style arabesques, while the ceiling moldings and caryatids are examples of the 17th-century French style.

9- Go in search of the frescoes

To discover Salses-le-Château in a different way, discover the frescoes of Max Rastouil . He was awarded the bronze medal for arts, sciences and letters in 2011 for his entire body of work. This artist, who loudly proclaims his freedom, has painted several frescoes for the town, on house facades, to decorate parking lots, the elementary school, etc.

10- The Saint-Etienne church of Salses

In the commune of Salses-le-Château, visit the Saint-Etienne church , in the center of the village. It was built between 1552 and 1584, destroyed by numerous battles and then rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. Above the portal is inscribed the date 1693. Only the portal and the bell tower are still original. It houses many ancient statues and an 18th-century baptismal font. It preserves the 15th-century recumbent Christ and another Christ from the 18th century, formerly housed in the Garrieux chapel.