Força Réal is a rocky peak overlooking the region of

Roussillon Roussillon ( , , ; , ; ) was a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and French Cerdagne, part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the region of ' ...

in Southern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. From the height of 507 metres, it has a view that stretches from the peak of the Canigou to the cape of

Port-Vendres Port-Vendres (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales Departments of France, department, southeastern France. A typical Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean fishing port, situated near the Spanish border on the Côte Vermei ...

. From here, one can see the geographically contrasting valleys of the

Agly The Agly (; ; ) is a river located in southern France.With a length of 79.9 km (49.6 mi), it originates in the hills of the Corbières Massif near Camps-sur-l'Agly. The river passes through various towns and villages including Saint-Paul-de-Fenoui ...

and the Têt. It has been used historically as a

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

, on account of its unique shape and proximity to the ports of

The Castle: The Royal Fortress

From the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258, the new rulers of

(the kings of

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...

and

Majorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...

), built a castle which fell into the defense of the northern border of the region. It completed the line composed of the

Château de Salses The Fort de Salses (also called Forteresse de Salses) is a Catalan fortress in the '' commune'' of Salses-le-Château, situated in the French ''département'' of Pyrénées-Orientales. It is clearly visible from the A9 autoroute as well as the ...

and Opoul among others. This castle was nicknamed "the Royal Castle", which the Catalans translated as "Força Real". The estate was occupied in 1343 by King Pedro IV of Aragon the Ceremonious, which ended the kingdom of

Mallorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...

. From the beginning of the fifteenth century the castle lost its importance. Its mission was to serve as lookout, the last mission before the

Treaty of the Pyrenees The Treaty of the Pyrenees(; ; ) was signed on 7 November 1659 and ended the Franco-Spanish War that had begun in 1635. Negotiations were conducted and the treaty was signed on Pheasant Island, situated in the middle of the Bidasoa River on ...

dismantled it permanently. In 1693, the castle and the tower were finally destroyed. It remains in ruins. Panorama roussillon forca real

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forca Real Mountains of Pyrénées-Orientales