Treasures of the Cathar country#Medieval heritage
Around the city of Carcassonne, Aguilar, Quéribus, Lastours, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Termes in the Aude department and Montségur in the Ariege department, form a defensive complex reputed to be impregnable. Writer Michel Roquebert calls this ensemble the citadels of vertigo. They bear witness to the assertion of royal power over southern France after the crusades of the XIIIᵉ century, and to the creation of an impressive defensive network.
The City of Carcassonne#Medieval City
The centerpiece of the defensive system designed in the 13th century by Philippe Auguste and his successors, the Cité de Carcassonne was the political, administrative and military center of the Cathar region.
It features a château comtal, 52 towers and two inner and outer walls. The medieval city of Carcassonne has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, for its architectural history from late Antiquity to its exemplary restoration by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.
Château d’Aguilar#commune de Tuchan
Nestled between the Hautes-Corbières and the Mediterranean Sea, in the heart of Cathar country, Château d’Aguilar overlooks the Tuchan-Paziols plain and its sun-drenched vineyards. Situated at an altitude of 296 meters, this fortress offered an ideal vantage point from which to monitor the rare passages through the Corbières.
Today, it offers a wide range of landscapes, from the wine-growing plain of Tuchan to the majestic Tauch mountain range.
the 4 castles of Lastours# Historic wealth
Cabaret, Tour Régine, Surdespine and Quertinheux, the four castles of Lastours rise between 260 and 285 meters above sea level in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. Situated in the heart of Cathar country, the Lastours castles benefit from shrubby vegetation, capable of withstanding major water deficits. But that’s not all! Today, this fortress is an exceptional site in the Pays Cathare, a must-see if you want to learn more about the history of our region.
Montségur castle#Ariege department
In the Ariège region, on the edge of the Aude department, on the northern front of the Pyrenees, the highest perched Citadelle of Vertigo clings at an altitude of 1,207 metres to a particularly steep rocky outcrop on the north side… Yes, it’s the Château de Montségur! Thanks to its dominant position, this royal fortress offers exceptional panoramic views of the Montagne Noire.
Peyrepertus castle#commune de Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse
A majestic, mighty stone vessel stranded at an altitude of almost 800 metres, the Château de Peyrepertuse literally follows the lines of the Roc Sant-Jordi limestone ridge, hard to see from afar.
Dominating several valleys, this Pays Cathare fortress was one of the essential links in the defense network against Aragon. Considered the most spectacular monument in Cathar country, Peyrepertuse castle is famous for its falconry show. This site is impressive, surprising and breathtaking all at once, thanks to its panoramic view from Fenouillèdes to the Mediterranean.
Puilaurens castle#commune de Lapradelle-Puilaurens
Perched at an altitude of 697 meters atop a limestone ridge, Puilaurens castle overlooks the rolling forests of the Boulzane valley. Classified as an exceptional site in the Pays Cathare, this fortress is the greenest in the Pays Cathare and the best preserved in the region!
The castle of Quéribus#commune de Cucugnan
On the front line of the ancient Franco-Aragonese border, perched on a windswept rock at 728 meters above sea level, the Château de Quéribus has watched over Grau de Maury and the Roussillon plain all the way to the Mediterranean for centuries.
Situated in the Cathar region, this fortress is one of the most representative of the Middle Ages in terms of the precision of its layout and architecture. An exceptional site in the Cathar country, the Château de Quéribus invites you into the heart of the Corbières for a unique experience.
Termes castle#Medieval fortress
The first to enter the royal domain in 1210, Château de Termes is surrounded by a wild and splendid landscape, criss-crossed by paths and bordered by two steep gorges. At the time, this Pays Cathare fortress was one of the most powerful in Languedoc. The castle has preserved some unique vestiges: its wall, its barbican, its archways… all of which make Château de Termes an exceptional Cathar country site.