It is located on a limestone ridge at about an altitude of 800 m, on top of a hill which separates Duilhac from the town of Rouffiac-des-Corbières, towering over scrubland and vineyards.

A strategic position which enables one at the same time to see far into the valleys that circle it, to control the mountain passes, or to send communication signals to the château de Quéribus a little further south.

The situation in the region was unclear until the signing of the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258, by which Catalonia was finally liberated from French feudal overlordship.

In 1355, the castle was restored to its defensive state and Henry of Trastamare, pretender to the Castillian throne, routed at Navarette, was authorized by the King of France Charles V to take refuge there.

Although the citadel was a lot less valuable after the annexation of Roussillon in 1658, a small garrison commanded by a junior officer was maintained until the French Revolution, during which it was abandoned.

Visitors can then use a path (about a quarter of an hour) to go round the castle to the east and enter by the main entrance on the north side.

During storms or high winds, the climb is strongly discouraged and often prohibited to protect the visitors from lightning and fall risks particularly in the St. Louis staircase (connecting the former castle to the dungeon) which is slippery even in good weather.