Calvi Citadel

Calvi, France

The Genoese Citadel is the main part of the town of Calvi, and its most important historical monument. It was a military outpost in the 15th century that helped guard the city against attacks from Franco-Turkish raiders to Anglo-Corsican armies. Inside the battlements, don’t miss the well-proportioned Caserne Sampiero, a military barracks that once served as the Genoese administration's seat of power, and the 13th-century Cathédrale St-Jean Baptiste, whose most celebrated relic is the ebony Christ des Miracles, credited with saving Calvi from Saracen invasion in 1553.

The citadel sits high above Calvi port from where it towers over the sea. From up here you get some great views of the coast and harbour.

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Address

Carrughju Agnese, Calvi, France
See all sites in Calvi

Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Corte Citadel (43,1 km)
Algajola Citadel (9,4 km)
Church of the Trinity and San Giovanni (11,3 km)
San Giovanni Battista (45,2 km)

User Reviews

tmade (3 years ago)
Beautyful, but built with blood!
Lenka Hrubá (3 years ago)
Nice old part of the city with little streets, just didn't like that streets full of rubish souvenirs under the Citadele
Jack Saebyeog-Sun (3 years ago)
Calvi is known for its beaches and crescent-shaped bay. A medieval citadel overlooks the marina from the bay's western end, and is home to Baroque St-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral and cobbled streets. Restaurants line the harbor on the Quai Landry esplanade. Perched on a high hill a short distance inland, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Serra has panoramic views of the area.
Konstantin Mirny (4 years ago)
The old citadel with many small tourist shops and restaurants. Nice view to the city and Porto. The most interesting places are marked with a sequence numbers. The entrance with car only with a special permit. There is a huge parking in the city near the entrance. The price in shops is definitely higher as usual.
Niklas Thulin (4 years ago)
Fantastic place. Very nice view over all of Calvi. Did you know that Marco Polo was born in Calvi? He was not from Genoa as many stories goes and are told. He was born here.. Most parts of the Castle (Citadelle) is being renovated so some parts might be difficult to approach. Nice afternoon outing.
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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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