The Royal Castle of Collioure, Le Château Royal, dominates the seafront at the southern end of the harbour. The site has had a castle since as early as the 7th century, but the building we see today was constructed in the 13th century, with additions until the 17th century.

Once occupied by the templars, the castle then became a royal household for the Kings of Majorca (Collioure was not yet part of France at this time) before being transformed into an important Spanish border fortress at the end of the 15th century.

In the 17th century the French military engineer Vauban added further substantial fortifications, resulting in the castle that we see today. These extensive works required a substantial increase in space, and much of the original medieval town of Collioure was destroyed in 1671 to make way for the expanded castle.