Castle of Portel's origins go up with the Visigoth, who built it in 5th century on its current site. The legend wants that the Visigoth king Ataulphe built for his lover, Galla Placidia, a splendid palate with an unspoilable view : The Castellas. This legend is not confirmed yet by the historical research undertaken until now, but the ruins of The Castellas always rise on a hill which dominates the village.

In year 737, after the battle of Poitier, Charles Martel demolishes Sarrazins between Lastours and the ponds. This episode is marked by a great battle on the current pond of Bages, called Battle of Berre, where Charles Martel killed their chief, Omar. Advanced station of the Moor army, castle of Portel also succumbs at the time of this battle. Rebuilt with the 10th century, it becomes an important fortified castle which locks the entry of the valley of river Berre. It often had, so, to suffer from many fights and cruel battles.

In 1382, at the time of the Revolt of Tuchins, the Narbonnese, having at their head a priest named Bernard Arquivilant, revolted against the Viscount of Narbonne and made him a relentless war. They devastated his grounds, reflect fire with his house after having plundered it, then moved towards Portel, out of weapons, with bombard and guns. The castle, which was at the time one of the properties of the Viscount, was besieged, and the mills and suburbs of the village burnt down.

The only remaining of this old construction is the basement of the entry gates, rising on a rock which dominates the river.

This ancient church was built on the site of a gallo-roman farm (mansio) used as a resting place for the travellers on the Via Domitia after the ford on the Berre, situated at Villefalse. At that time, the river was called "Reinadouïre" (Queen of waters) by the Celtiberes, a  gallic tribe who first lived in this region far before the Roman conquest.

The fishermen, who had particularly suffered from the Arab incursions, made, after the battle of Berre, a pilgrimage with Sainte-Marie of Oubiels, for a thanksgiving. They thus marked their recognition with Portel by pouring a dîme with Notre-Dame of Oubiels and concretised thereafter their religious enthusiasm by the construction of a place of prayer.

During this historical rich past, the tradition of wine growing, as  disappeared little by little breeding of the sheep.

True floret of Portel, these majestic ruins have been classified in 1973 historic building of XIIIe and XIVe centuries. The square bell-tower, the chorus and the  gothic nave were partially restored by voluntary ones. Behind the Abbey, the field of olive-trees would be the site of an old cemetery of monks.

In 90 after J.C, roman Imperator Domitius restored the antique greco-phenician road (Heraclean way), called from now "Via Domitia". A fortress was then built to protect the passage on the Berre river and to facilitate, in the event of attacks, the defense and the regrouping of the several watchtowers. This place of rallying was then called Castrum de Turribus, becoming Château of Lastours.
In 12^th century, about 1160, the Viscountess Ermengarde de Narbonne (1129-1197), Aymeri II of Narbonne's daughter, and emblematic figure of the area, restored the antique way, to start again the economy of the Narbonnese province. This road then takes the name of Via Mercaderia and passes directly to the foot of the current domain of Lastours, on a solid bridge with five arches spanning the river. This trade route connected Narbonne to Spain, borrowing the layout of the antique Voie domitienne.

Consequently a vineyard appeared, for the pleasure of the travellers. The influence of the Castle of Lastours, regular milestone along this way, was then with its apogee.

• Gypsum quarries

During two centuries gypsum stone was extracted from the open sky quarries of Portel until 1920, then in underground mine by the Company "Laffarge Plasters".
In 1992, the activity of extraction ends : the managers of the Rocbère Cellars then proposed to "Laffarge Plasters" a reconversion project for a part of the galleries in wine storehouse of ageing. "Laffarge" Company yields 800 meters of galleries for one "symbolic franc" and a 99 years duration. The alteration work started in November 1993 and completed in July 1994.

In homage to the ancient miners, a realistic reconstitution of the underground gypsum extraction is presented during the visit of Terra Vinea.

The gypsum, partially dehydrated by heating, provides the plaster. The gypsum is employed since antiquity as a binder or in coating of frontage. This use allowed the opening of the quarries of Portel as from the 19th century, until 1992.
The gypsum (hydrated sulphate calcium) is formed by the same phenomenon of evaporation than salt, but its precipitation intervenes earlier, on less concentrated brines, before the deposit of salt itself. Salt and gypsum are often associated in the underground. This production does not feed any more plaster industry but the cement one, gypsum being an obligatory additive of the majority of cements.

• The new church

Beautiful ogival monument, erected around 1889.

• The "Cayrol Font"

This fontain quenched people of Portel's thirst over centuries.

• The bridge of Tamaroque

Magnificent stoned bridge built in 1863-1864 on the Berre, at the south entrance of the village.

Design and realization of this Web site : A.P.P.I. - Email appi@portel-promo.com