Overlooking the bay of Collioure and Port-Vendres, this majestic 5-pointed monument catches our eye! But what is this fort we can see from the heights? Fort Saint-Elme ! A veritable heritage treasure, it’s a monument steeped in epic history! Watchtower, Torre de la Guarda, Fort du Rocher, then Fort Saint Elme, this fortress has seen many eras since it was built in the 9th century! A symbol of the influence of Northern Catalonia, it is one of the most emblematic sites in the region, and was listed as a historic monument in 1927.
On foot, by train or by car, there’s no limit to the ways in which you can admire this monument! Let’s unravel the mysteries of this fortress!
From the top of its terraces, Fort Saint Elme offers an exceptional 360° panorama, embracing the Mediterranean from the Spanish border to Sète (around 150km) !
Fort Saint Elme, the sentinel of the Vermeille coast ❤️
An ideal spot for photo enthusiasts 📷
Photographers and lovers of wide open spaces will enjoy a unique moment between sky, land and sea.
All roads lead to Fort Saint Elme !
It’s a great walk!
We reach the Collioure Modern art Museum, take the stairs and cross the Parc Pams to “La Gloriette”, the former smoking room of Senator Pams, to reach the Mill. Behind the Moulin, we pick up the path again and continue until we reach Fort Saint-Elme. A spectacular sight awaits us on arrival. We are overwhelmed by the immensity of this monument and the view before us! (The walk lasts around 40 minutes).
By little train, from the place du 8 mai 1945.
We pass through the vineyards and discover a beautiful panoramic view of Collioure! At Fort Saint Elme, the little train makes a stop that allows us to appreciate the beauty of the monument and the landscape, then we head towards Port Vendres to finally return to Collioure. By car via Port-Vendres.
An exceptional monument and panorama !
We arrived at the highest point of the walk, at the Fort Saint Elme ! We were astonished, admired and delighted when we arrived. With walls over 25 metres high and over 10 metres thick, wide battlements, stunners, machicolations and other loopholes, this majestic fortress takes us back to the days of battle !
We pause to contemplate the view over the entire Côte-Vermeille and the village of Collioure, which is both magical and moving.
Go back to the 9th century to imagine the history of Fort Saint Elme !
From the Watchtower to Fort Saint Elme !
First a watchtower! The first watchtower was built on the site of Fort Saint Elme in the 9th century to defend against Moorish raids. In 1172, it came into the hands of Alfonso II, King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, and was named “La Tour de la guarda”! Then a Fort !
At the end of the 13th century, the kings of Majorca, aware of the Tower’s strategic location, had it rebuilt to keep a better watch on the enemy. In the 15th century, Emperor Charles V had the tower surrounded by a rampart. The old watchtower then became a fort. And finally, Fort Saint Elme!
The Fort’s name was changed in honour of Saint Elme, the patron saint of sailors, a testament to Collioure’s maritime importance.
From star construction to today !
Saint Elme is a fort built between 1538 and 1552, made impenetrable by its star-shaped architecture, arrow slits, deadfall traps and other traps.
It is an great place for walking, with 360° panoramic views overlooking the ocean, the mountains and plains.
Despite the reinforcement of the fort, Collioure became French under the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. Then, in the 17th century, Vauban improved the defensive system as a whole, developing the ‘iron belt’. This defence network covered all the borders of France. Collioure was part of it, and Fort Saint-Elme was equipped with a counterscarp and a moat. The fort was demilitarised in 1903. On 2 April 1927, Fort Saint Elme was listed as a historic monument.
Occupied by the German navy during the Second World War, it was badly damaged, then restored in 1950, and further major consolidation work was undertaken in 2004. Fort Saint Elme has been privately owned and closed to visitors since 2023. The Fort is still undergoing a number of renovations to keep it in good condition and maintain the magic and power of this site, which can be seen from Collioure, Port Vendres and beyond!
Key information before coming to Collioure
Can we visit Fort Saint Elme ?
Fort Saint Elme has been closed to visitors since 2023.
How do I get to Fort Saint Elme ?
- You can get there on foot, passing by the museum, the gazebo, the mill and then the Fort Saint Elme.
- By tourist train, place du 18 juin 1945 (the train makes a short stop, then sets off again)
- By car, via Port Vendres
How to get to Collioure ?
Here you’ll find all the information you need to get to Collioure and around Collioure
What’s the weather like in Collioure ?
Click here to see the weather forecast for Collioure
What are the market days in Collioure?
The Collioure market takes place on Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings at the Place du Maréchal Leclerc. Find out more about the markets
Can I download the Collioure brochures ?
Find all our brochures here
Is there a page with all the frequently asked questions?
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.
