From the top of the cliff, from the Château de Penne, it is better not to be afraid of heights. Clinging to its rocky promontory, the ruins of the fortress offer an incredible view of the Gorges de l'Aveyron below and the Grésigne forest in the distance. Constantly being renovated, a visit to the château and its gardens is an invitation to dream of an era that is no more, the Middle Ages.
Traveling to the Middle Ages
Nestled on top of a rocky spur, the fortress can be seen from the charming alleys of the medieval city. Built stone by stone, the medieval building transports you through history and time from the entrance to the fortress.
From mid-July to mid-August, you can see masons and stonemasons in period clothing working hard to rebuild the citadel with chisels. The craftsmen have many things to share with you about the medieval know-how that goes hand in hand with the restoration of the Château de Penne.
Dressed in period outfits, the guides have donned their finest costumes and tell you the myths and legends surrounding this place like no one else. During medieval festivals, an authentic fight between men in armour immerses visitors in the world of bygone castles.
Visiting the fortress
After the short winter break, the castle lowers its drawbridge again to welcome visitors. This year 2025, meet on Saturday, February 8 to enjoy new adventures at the top of the eagle's nest. There, at the top of the beautiful village of Penne, between the partly restored ruins of the fortress, we enjoy the spectacle.
After climbing the paved path to the lower courtyard, you enter the enclosure through the entrance gatehouse, between the spur tower and the round tower with arrow slits. There, the magic happens. You'd think you'd stepped straight into an adventure film. Throughout the self-guided tour, signs in the form of educational books tell the history of the place and the lives of those who populated it in the Middle Ages. From here, only a tiny pinch of imagination will be needed to see the keep, the crenellated ramparts and the army below trying to invade the castle!
A very lively summer with guided tours and workshops for young and old
With the sun's rays warming the atmosphere, characters returned from ancient times take over the stronghold! Proudly dressed in their period costumes, some come to tell us the history of the castle, others introduce us to sword fighting, still others show us the art of forging, weaving and dyeing, illuminating or carving stone! Every day in summer, between July 13 and August 25, we go back in time and get our hands dirty! Everything you need to spend a whole day perched on our rocky peak. And when the day ends, it's at nightfall that the festivities continue.
Some evenings, we use the last light to appreciate in a different light the architectural treasure that unfolds before our eyes, and we let our imaginations take flight during a guided tour around the “Tales and Legends” of the Tarn and elsewhere.
Stroll for a royal view
Overlooking the valley, near the surrounding walls unearthed during the archaeological excavations, a path forming a loop of about 30 minutes is accessible to visitors to the site. Along the way, there are picnic tables (don't forget to collect your trash cans, there are none on the path), and from this dominant position, you can admire the breathtaking view of the Aveyron which winds below, carving out reliefs of rocks and vegetation.
Stories and adventures of a high-perched castle
The Penne fortress was built in the 13th centurye century. Under its foundations are still the remains of an ancient castrum that had sheltered Cathars during the Crusade against the Albigensians. In 1212, the castle resisted a siege begun by the Crusaders, commanded by Guy de Monfort, the brother of Simon de Monfort. When in 1229, the Treaty of Paris between the King of France and the Count of Toulouse put an end to the Crusade, the lords of Penne refused to submit and continued to support the heretics. 22 years later, they were nevertheless forced to abandon the castle to Alphonse de Poitier, brother of the Capetian King Louis IX, Penne definitively entered the royal domain in 1271.
Plundered and attacked by the English and the Count of Armagnac during the Hundred Years' War, Penne resisted. It was finally the Wars of Religion, opposing Catholics and Protestants, which marked the end of its history, when the latter dismantled the castle in 1586.
Rediscovery and reconstruction
In 2006, Axel Letellier, a heritage architect and heritage enthusiast since his youngest age, bought the site with his wife Sophie and the couple decided to restore it.
Started in 2007, the work continues phase by phase, between consolidations and restorations. During your visit, you might even see the craftsmen at work, including the stonemasons in costume!
Giving a new lease of life to the castle, these works are also an opportunity for archaeological discoveries. For example, the clearing of the spur tower, a model for the Narbonne gate in Carcassonne, or the remains of the enclosure along the path below.
Walk in the heart of the village
To reach the medieval castle, a listed Historic Monument, you must park at the foot of the village, or even in the valley, and climb a small dirt road surrounded by greenery.
Once you reach the top, the village is worth a visit!
We are immediately immersed in the atmosphere of centuries past between its narrow cobbled streets, its old-style facades and its church with architecture perfectly integrated into the village's defensive system.
Along the path to the castle, poetry is distilled here and there by the locals.
For a little refreshment or to eat, we stop at the Café des Mesures in the middle of the village, or at the Terrasse Pennole a little further down. From there, a breathtaking view of the valley and the castle!
On the way back, the most gourmets will certainly not forget to stop at the Fromagerie du Pic to leave with delicious 100% local cheeses!
For foodies
For adventurers
For the more athletic, Penne has many activities to offer! Canoeing on the Gorges de l'Aveyron, hiking or climbing on the limestone cliffs. All means are good to enjoy the landscape from all angles and by all means!
