Cathars and Cathar Beliefs in the Languedoc
Cathar Castles (Châteaux Cathares) in the Languedoc


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The Cathars:  Cathar Castles

 

Most of the main "Cathar Castles" are actualy castles built by the French after the Cathar Crusade, and used to defend their new border with Aragon.  Being later, and Royal, they were typically bigger and more advanced than the original "Cathar Castle". These castles were Royal slighted, or left to decay, after the Treaty of the Pyrenees in the seventeenth century.  Among the were Carcassonne and her five sons: Termes, Aguilar, QueribusPeyrepertuse and Puilaurens.

There are a few genuine Cathar Castles, advertised as Cathar Castles:  You will also find a few vestiges near to existing structures (eg castles at Peyrepertuse, and Puivert).  Carcassonne probably has the best claim to be a Cathar Castle, followed by Foix and three quarters of Lastours (Cabaret)

Among the later French Castles built on the site of Cathar strongholds, (but often advertised as Cathar Castles) are:  CoustaussaPuilaurensMontségurQueribusTermesAguilar   and Saissac.

There are even French Castles with no Cathar connections, which are sometimes advertised as Cathar Castles: such as  Arques.

There are also Cathar Castles that are not advertised as Cathar Castles for various reasons. Among them are:  Pieusse (in private hands)  Le Bézu (advertised as a Templar Comandery) and  Usson (remote and ruined).

Finally there are a number of sites of Cathar Castles, where nothing or almost nothing remains:  BéziersToulouseBramMarmandeLavaurMinerveBeaucaireCastelnaudary, Muret, and Les Cases.

There are also castles of interest because of their links with events during the Cathar period, for example: Avignonet, where Cathar sympathisers massacred Inquisitors. Villerouge Termenès, where the last known Cathar Parfait in the Languedoc was burned alive, and Montaillou, the home of Beatrice de Plannissols, a major character in the events following the arrest of a whole village by the Inquisition on suspicion of Cathar sympathies.

Click here for more on Cathar Castles.

Click here for a summary list of Cathar Castles, with links to details, history architecture, phographs, plans and maps.

 

 

Carcassonne

 
 

Foix

 
 

Carcassonne

Carcassonne

 

Queribus

 

Montségur

The famous castle at Montsegur
 

Tours of Cathar Castles & Cathar Country

 

Carcassonne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


GUIDED TOURS OF CATHAR CASTLES OF THE LANGUEDOC

You can join small exclusive guided tours of Cathar Castles
led by an English speaking expert on the Cathars
who lives in the Languedoc
(author of www.cathar.info and www.catharcastles.info )

Selected Cathar Castles. Accommodation provided. Transport Provided.

Cathar Origins, History, Theology.
The Crusade, The Inquisition, and Consequences

Click here to visit the Cathar Country Website for more information

 

Cathar Castle Photographs

 

Arques

 

Minerve

 

Les Cases

 

Arques

 

Foix

 

Minerve

 

Queribus

 

Queribus

 

Termes

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Carcassonne

 

Foix

 

Lavaur

 

Peyrepertuse

 

Puilaurens

 

Queribus

 

Carcassonne

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Muret

 
 
 

Queribus

 
 
 
 
 

Carcassonne

The Chateau Comptal at Carcassonne
 
 
 

Minerve

 

Carcassonne

 

Carcassonne

 

Puilaurens

 

Puilaurens

 

Toulouse

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Queribus

 

Toulouse

 
 

Montségur

 

Carcassonne

 

Foix

 

Carcassonne

 

Puivert

 

Minerve

 

Toulouse

 

Puivert

 

Carcassonne

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Carcassonne

 

Arques

 

Lastours

 

Carcassonne

 

Carcassonne

 

Fontfroide

 

Minerve

 

Fontfroide

 

Fontfroide

 

Lavaur

 

Toulouse

 

Carcassonne

 

Carcassonne

 

Carcassonne

 

Toulouse

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Carcassonne

 

Foix

 

Fontfroide

 

Foix

 

Carcassonne

 

Queribus

 

Carcassonne

 

Lavaur

 

Minerve

 

Minerve

 

Montségur

 

Foix

 

Montségur

 

Montségur

 

Puilaurens

 

Puilaurens

 

Queribus

 

Carcassonne

 

Foix

 

Puilaurens

 

Toulouse

 

Carcassonne

 

Montségur

 

Montségur

 

Peyrepertuse

 

Villerouge Termenès

 

Montségur

 

Lavaur

 

Fontfroide

 

Foix

 

Fontfroide

 

Carcassonne

 

Lavaur

 

Minerve

 

Minerve

 

Minerve

 

Minerve

 

Montségur

 

Montségur

 

Puilaurens

 

Minerve

 

Carcassonne

 

Carcassonne

 

Queribus

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Further Information on Cathars and Cathar Castles

 

 

If you want to cite this website in a book or academic paper, you will need the following information:

Author: James McDonald MA, MSc.
Title: Cathars and Cathar Beliefs in the Languedoc
url: http://www.cathar.info
Date last modified: 8 February 2017

 

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