cathars' fortresses

Aguilar Arques Lastours Montségur Peyrepetruse Puilaurens Puivert Quéribus Termès Terménes

Château Lastours
The four castles of Lastours - Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine, Quertinbeux, dominate the valley of the river Orbieu in the Montagne Noir. Once this castle of the masters of Cabaret had been a refugee for the Cathars. The walls resisted the crusaders, but they could not resist the poor people of this land, who started to use the stones of the walls to build their own houses; a fate which Lastours shares with the city of Carcassonne, even though it had been one of fortressed castles called the five sons.
Château de Lastours, F-11600 Lastours, Tel:+33-(0)46877-5602 | E-Mail | Closed in January

Chateau Quéribus Château de Quéribus
This castle located in the heart of the Corbières, is one of the so-called five sons of Carcassonne, and it resisted the crusaders for a long time; its location in vertiginous height was perfect to spy on the enemies long before they could see the defenders. In the 11th century this desolate place, at 730 m height had been a frontier guardian, in later times it became the Cathar's refugee. Upon the fall of the Montsègur, this castle was their last refuge, however, after a short struggle it was handed over to the crusaders. The castle consists of three fortresses one built on top of the other; its core is the huge Donjon with a beautiful Gothic vault.
Château de Quéribus, F-11350 Cucugnan, Tel:+33-(0)45845-0369 | Opened all year

Château de Peyrepertuse
It is breath-taking climbing up this castle at 796 m located opposite Quéribus This largest castle in the Land of the Cathars stretches to 2 hectares and its 2.5 km long wall reminds you more of acity than a castle. During the 12th century it belonged to theKing of Aragon; however, when in 1240 various leaders of the Cathars escaped to it, it had to share the fate of all of the Cathars' castles.Guilhem de Peyrepertuse surrendered without battle; his men lacking both water and food. The castle consists of three sections, two fortress walls, the donjon de Saint Jordy and the old donjon Cour Basse. The centre section was once secured by a massive tower. The castle itself is accessed by carved stairs having been constructed on behalf of Louis the Holy in 1242. From the donjon of Saint Jordy one has a splendid view of the Mediterrenean. Do not miss visiting the little tavern located at the foot of the castle; they offer splendid, typical food.
Château de Peyrepetruse, F-11350 Dulhac-sous-Peyrepetruse, Tel:+33-(0)67158-6336 - Closed in January

Aguilar
One does not know when this castle once forming part of the county of Barcelona was constructed. It was given to the masters of Termes, vassals of the Trençavel family. During the years of the crusade Aguilar was of minor importance; and when the land of the Trençavels was annexed by the crusaders, Aguilar formed part of the « five sons of Carcassonne »; together with Puilaurens, Peyrepetruse, Quèribus and Termes they were part of the legendary fortresses of the defence community with Carcassonne being centre.

Arques Château d'Arques
Nowadays there is nothing left of this large castle except the huge donjon with its rectangular walls. In the South-West the square-shaped tower rises as well as another very well preserved tower 11 m long and 25 m high. In 1243 this castle was given to Pierre de Voisins, one of the followers of the ill-famed Simon de Montford. Nowadays Arques with its splendid inner court is a place for festivals, exhibitions and concerts. Do not miss the permanent exhibition of the history of the Cathars.
Château de'Arques, F-11190 Arques, Tel:+33-(0)46869-8477 | Closed in January

Puilaurens
This castle rises on the top of a rock near the magnificent gorge « Pierre-Lys ». The castle's tower on the whole western section, overtops the path running into a big gate; the walls are equipped with 12 loopholes, the large court is surrounded by well preserved walls with a crown of pinnacles. One discovers the first traces of Puilaurens in a document of the 10th century. In 1243 it was taken over by the legendary Xacbert de Barbeira, who defended it against the crusaders until 1256. When having been drawn in an ambush, he had to hand over the chateau of Puilaurens.
Château de Puilaurens, 11140 Lapradelle Puilaurens, Fon:+33(0)46820-6526 | Chateau Puilaurens

Puivert
This castle rises on the top of a rock near the magnificent gorge « Pierre-Lys ». The castle's tower on the whole western section, overhangs the path running into a big gate; the walls are equipped with 12 loopholes, the large court is surrounded by well preserved walls with a crown of pinnacles. One discovers the first traces of Puilaurens in a document of the 10th century. In 1243 it was taken over by the legendary Xacbert de Barbeira, who defended it against the crusaders until 1256, when, having been drawn into an ambush, he had to hand over the chateau of Puilaurens.
Château de Puivert, F-11130 Puivert, Fon:+33-(0)46820-8152 | Chateau-de-Puivert | Closed from December until March

Termes
Termes One first heard of this castle in a document dating from the year 1100. Termes belonged to the Sieurs de Termes, who were of great power and wealth in the Midi. During the crusades Raymond de Termes, a vassall of the Vicomte de Carcassonne, was owner of this castle. Old Raymond racked the brain of the Crusaders; it took them more than four month to overcome the castle; more due to a lack of water than due to the courage of the besiegers. From the chaos of the razed walls, one can image the ground plan of this castle, which once consisted of two rings of walls and a tower with a huge protection wall.
Château de Termes, 11330 Termes, Fon:+33-(0)46870-0920 | Closed in January

Villerouge-Termenes
This former summer residence of the archbishops of Narbonne did not participate in the war against the Cathars, thus, this castle and the picturesque village of Villerouge are very well preserved.

The « last of the cathars » Bèlibaste, died in Villerouge the 24th August 1321 at the stake. Nowadays most sections of this castle, located within the village, are in a very good condition.
Château de Villerouge-Termenes, F-11330 Villerouge-Termenes, Tel:+33-(0)46870-0911 - Closed in January

Montségur (Ariège)
The mystic mountain of the sect of the Cathars, was besieged by the crusaders for nearly two years. Only a few people managed to escape to the desolate mountains. For more than two years they resisted, but lack of water and food forced them to capitulate. It was in March 1244 when 250 men, women and children died at the stake, many of them being « parfaits », in the name of the holy church and the king of France.
Château Montségur