Cabrenç Towers

Cabrenç Towers, near the village of Lamanère, are the ruins of a medieval watchtower castle standing on the border between the communes of Lamanère and Serralongue, in the Haut-Vallespir region of the French Pyrénées-Orientales, right against the Spanish border. Perched on a rocky mountain spur at roughly 1336–1340 m altitude, the site is one of the most striking viewpoints in this part of the Vallespir valley.

How do you get to the Cabrenç Towers?

The starting point is Lamanère itself — the southernmost village of metropolitan France, home to only about 57 residents. A marked hiking trail leads from the village center to the ruins, with the round trip taking roughly two hours on foot. The path climbs through mountainous terrain, so it's worth setting aside half a day and wearing sturdy footwear. The commune sits at the far end of the Tech valley, reached via departmental roads through Serralongue.

What will you see there?

The defensive complex is made up of three parts: a signal tower (the best preserved, and the one visitors can climb), a small fort, and the ruins of the seigneurial castle that served as the main stronghold. Nearby stand the remains of a chapel dedicated to Saint Michael, of which only fragments of wall survive today. From the terrace by the signal tower, standing at about 1287 m, the view stretches across the valleys of Haut-Vallespir and into the Pyrenean ridgeline on the Spanish side.

The history behind the towers

The castle was built in the 11th century as part of a defensive network guarding the border valleys. Its signal tower belonged to a chain of watchtowers maintained by the Kingdom of Majorca, which used smoke and fire signals to communicate with neighboring towers — the Tour de Mir in Prats-de-Mollo-La-Preste, the Tour de Cos in Le Tech, and the Tour de Batère in Corsavy. The system warned valley communities of incursions arriving from the south. The stronghold was later destroyed on Vauban's orders in reprisal for the Angelets revolt (1667–1675), a Catalan uprising against taxes imposed by the French crown. The central tower and the castle ruins were listed as a French historic monument in 1988, and the north tower followed in 1994. In 2024, the Cabrenç signal tower was among 14 towers lit up to mark the passage of the Olympic flame relay.

The village name Lamanère itself comes from the Catalan word "la menera," meaning "the mine," a reference to the iron-ore extraction once widespread across the Vallespir and neighboring Conflent valleys. The earliest written record of the settlement dates to a document from 990, though no traces of habitation predating the Carolingian era (9th century onward) have been found in the area.

When is the best time to visit?

Given the altitude and the mountainous approach, late spring through early autumn is the best window for hiking up to the Cabrenç Towers, when the trail is dry and visibility stretches deep into the Pyrenees. In winter, snow and low temperatures along the ridge can make the climb considerably harder.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to walk to the Cabrenç Towers from Lamanère? The marked round-trip trail takes about two hours on foot.

Can you climb the tower? Yes, the signal tower is open to climb and serves as the main viewpoint of the site.

How old is the castle? It was built in the 11th century and was destroyed in the 17th century on Vauban's orders following the Angelets revolt.

Is Lamanère really the southernmost village in France? Yes, it's the southernmost commune of metropolitan France, bordering Spain directly.