The Château de Montferrand
Perched on its limestone spur overlooking the scrubland, the 12th-century feudal castle dominates the plain and offers an unparalleled view of Saint-Mathieu de Tréviers, Pic Saint-Loup, and Hortus.
A historical monument
Originally owned by the county of Melgueil in the 12th century, the castle was confiscated from the count of Toulouse during the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century.
It was entrusted by the Pope to the bishop of Maguelone. The wars of religion saw the castle change sides several times, before its gradual abandonment in the 18th century.
Seemingly emerging from the cliffs, this ancient fortress is an emblematic element of the landscape of the Grand Pic Saint-Loup.
An architectural challenge
The history and architectural evolution of the Montferrand castle demonstrate the ingenuity of its builders who had to show skill and ingenuity to cope with the rugged terrain despite limited technical means.
More than just a fortress, the Montferrand Castle bears witness to the ability of man to adapt to his environment and to make the best use of the resources at hand.
Even today, the construction is so tightly embedded in its limestone matrix that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the creation of man from the work of nature.
An exceptional panorama
The site is only accessible on foot, through a magnificent hike that starts from Saint-Mathieu de Tréviers and follows the GR60. While the ruins of the castle are closed to visitors today for both safety and preservation reasons, the Montferrand castle remains an emblem of the landscape of the Grand Pic Saint-Loup and an exceptional panorama.
In this context, the Pic Patrimoine association is involved in the Montferrand project and allows those who wish to get involved in the preservation of the castle, including stone-cutting workshops.
The Montferrand Castle: Historical Monuments
The Montferrand castle listed as a historical monument.
In 2022, it joined the 22 other buildings listed as historical monuments in the area.
Since April 4th, the Montferrand castle has been the 8th classified monument of the Grand Pic Saint-Loup, alongside the Cambous castle, the churches of Assas, Claret, St-Martin-de-Londres, and Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, and the prehistoric sites of Lebous and Suquet.
This classification supports the actions of the Community of communes and its partners for the promotion of this emblematic site of the area and its history.
A story to discover
Practical information
Access to the castle
For safety reasons, access to the interior of the castle grounds is temporarily prohibited!
Security and development work is ongoing.
In the near future, the interior of the castle will be accessible as part of guided tours (by reservation). A schedule will be posted online in September 2025.
By 2027, the secured areas will be gradually reopened to the public.
