France: Alta Cerdanya & Castel de Querol

Right over the high mountain pass lies the French area of Alta Cerdanya, historically and culture part of Northern Catalonia, but under French control as a result of Spanish concessions after the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 ended the Thirty Years’ War and forced Spain to cede Alta Cerdanya. This land has a lot of history, like the ruined Castel de Querol, sitting at a mountain pass and meant to protect the land, it was built in 1011 AD. The ruins today have two enclosures and two towers, all surrounded with panoramic alpine views.