Cathar country and the Cathar castles - historic background The castle at Quï¿½ribus What and where is "le Pays Cathare", and who were the Cathars? Map of Cathar country, showing main towns and main Cathar castles The story of the Cathars The "Cathars" themselves were not a race, or a people; they were the followers of a dissident church that flourished in several parts of Europe during the early Mediaeval period. Catharism - meaning litterally purity (as in catharsis) - was a sort of proto- Protestantism that promoted values of equality, neighbourliness and charity, and turned its back on the pomp, hierarchy and worldly wealth of the Catholic church of the time. Cathars believed that Earth was ruled by a malevolent God, and that Heaven was the world of the good God: this dualist concept of God was not unique to Catharism, but it was sufficient cause for the Catholic church of the time to brand Catharism as a heresy. Catharism did not have a founder, nor a designated leader, and it did not only take root in one place.

It appears to have originated in the Byzantine world, and to have spread to Europe via churches in Bulgaria. By the eleventh century, there were Cathar believers all over Europe, including England. But one of the places in which the Cathar church really flourished, and the place with which the word Cathar is now strongly associated, is the southern half of the French regions of Languedoc and Midi-Pyrï¿½nï¿½es . Cathars and Languedoc In the early Middle Ages, France was a much smaller country than now; the area that is France today was then a hotchpotch of kingdoms, duchies and counties, some with allegiance to the French crown, others with different loyalties. "Languedoc" was the generic name given to the southern half of the country, where they did not speak French at all, but a family of languages between French and Spanish known as "les langues d'oc", or Occitanian. Some areas in this "Occitania" were largely independent, others belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, others - including parts of "Cathar country" to the kingdom of Aragon.

Above all, territories in this frontier region far from the power houses of Europe - Paris, London and Rome - changed hands frequently following alliances and power struggles, marriages and deaths, among the local rulers, the most important of whom were the Counts of Toulouse. As in later centuries, religious dissent was not just a theological statement; it was a way by which local rulers and people could assert their differences and their cultural independence from the great European powers of the day, the Catholic church and the Kings of France. Thus a large part of the Languedoc, people and nobles, adopted the Cathar heresy, and by so doing distanced themselves from the French and from Rome. By the early 13th century, Catharism had taken such a strong hold in the area, that in 1208 Pope Innocent III launched the notorious Albigensian Crusade - a crusade aimed not against the Infidels, but against the "heretical" Cathars. For twenty years, crusaders, led by the Barons of France including Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, sacked and pillaged the area, massacring Cathars or converting them by force to Catholicism.

In the early 1220s, the Cathars' fortunes revived, prompting a second wave of Crusading this time led by King Louis VIII and later Louis IX. Finally, most of the area was subjugated, and in 1229, the Treaty of Meaux-Paris was signed, bringing almost the whole of Occitania into the realm of the French crown. Pockets of Cathar resistance held out for the next twenty-six years. Impregnable Puylaurent "Cathar country's" fortified hilltops, castles, villages and towns remain to this day as a stark reminder of the the area's turbulent history. Many of the castles predate the period of the Cathar heresy, having been built in earlier centuries as defensive positions along the changing border area between Aragon and France. During the Albigensian crusade period, many castles and other fortified positions served as strongholds for beseiged Cathars, and many witnessed atrocious massacres.

The Albigensian Crusade has been described as the first act of genocide in Europe, though this is surely an exaggeration; mediaeval wars were cruel, and acts that would be classed today as crimes against humanity, were in those days part and parcel of the strategy of conquest. The castle at Montsï¿½gur remained a Cathar stronghold until 1244, when it was finally taken and 200 Cathar prisoners taken were burned alive. The last Cathar stronghold, the Chateau de Peyrepertuse, fell in 1255. In order to consolidate their power, the new French masters of Languedoc rebuilt and maintained the fortified cities and the great defensive castles of the area. They strengthened the defences of walled cities like Carcassonne and Narbonne, and renovated most of the imposing strongholds that they had captured, as at Quï¿½ribus, Peyrepertuis, or Puylaurent. They even built the massive fortified cathedral at Albi , as a high-powered statement of Catholic dominance - and fear of revolt - in the area.

And because Languedoc was for the next six centuries largely a peripheral area in terms of European development, a lot of these mediaeval monuments have come down through time relatively intact. In human terms, historians estimate that the persecution of the Cathars in Languedoc caused half a million deaths. In cultural terms, the suppression of the Cathar heresy and the consolidation of French power in Occitania led to the strangling of of one of the great cultures of mediaeval Europe. However most people in the area continued to speak forms of Occitanian until well into the nineteenth century, and Occitanian languages are still alive as patois even to this day. In recent years,; and since the 1970s, the concept of "Oc" - and with it the memory of the Cathars - has staged a strong revival. Even so, the flame of Occitanian literature and culture, snuffed out in the 13th century by the imposition of a nobility answerable to the crown of France, has never been seriously rekindled .

Getting to Cathar country : Cathar Castle Tours in the Languedoc Historical Tours of Cathar Castles in deep rural France Led by James McDonald Welcome to our mobile-friendly home page. Click here to go to the full screen version. We offer top-of-the-range tours centred on the Cathars of the Languedoc, all conducted in English, on location in the Pays Cathare "Cathar Country" in France. The Cathar movement and the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars were two of the most important events in European history - with many, often surprising, world-wide resonances even today, eight centuries later. The Castrum and Château Fort (Castle) of Carcassonne Our organized tours are led by an English speaking expert on Catharism who lives locally, just south of Carcassonne in the heart of Cathar Country. He has written a number of books and is the author of the leading English Language website on the Cathars ( ). You will not need to speak any French on our escorted tours. Our USP is that tours cover historical information in much greater breadth and depth than any other source, and are founded on primary historical sources.

Tours include guided visits to "Cathar Castles" and other Cathar related sites, informal illustrated lectures and talks on Catharism, Cathar beliefs and practices, the concept of heresy, Medieval warfare and the Albigensian Crusade, along with the history of the "Pays Cathare" - Cathar Country. Talks also cover the ancient culture of the area including the role of the medieval Counts of Toulouse and the medieval Inquisition. You can also learn about the local language, Occitan, the first post-classical literary language of Europe, spoken throughout Occitania. (Occitan was the language of the troubadours and the first language of Richard the Lionheart). The Château Fort (Castle) of Foix Information provided includes historical and cultural background, illustrations, maps and timelines - even an introduction to the esoteric world of Gnostic Dualism. You will learn how to spot medieval Cathars and how to besiege a Medieval Castle. Escorted visits include trips to key historic locations such as Carcassonne and Montsegur. While we endeavor to ensure strict historical accuracy of the information provided, we appreciate that this is a vacation in the South of France, rather than a university course.

- and no one will mind if you decide to spend some of your holiday sitting in the Languedoc sun and drinking some of the famous Languedoc wines. Cathar Castles Cathar Castles In the twelfth century a new religion took root in Europe which we know today as Catharism. The Cathars were Gnostic Christians. They claimed that their beliefs and practices dated from the earliest Christian times, and predated the innovations of the Catholic Church - a claim that is now recognised by historians as substantially correct. They had survived in Persia and gradually travelled westwards through the Byzantine Empire, the Balkans and Italy to Western Europe. The Catholic Church regarded Cathars as heretics. It was then a crime to disagree with Catholic theology and a capital crime if the disagreement was repeated. Cathars appeared throughout Europe, but it was in the Languedoc that they flourished, becoming the majority religion in many places. After a series of failed attempts to convert them by preaching and debating, Pope Innocent III called a full scale crusade against them.

From 1208 a series of military campaigns were launched against the Cathars and their sympathisers, known together as the Albigensian Crusade from the erroneous idea that the Cathars were centred in the town of Albi. The local nobility of the Languedoc, vassals of the King of Aragon, along with the rest of the local population, sided with the Cathars. As the crusade progressed, Cathars and their sympathisers took refuge in castles and fortified towns, often located on spectacular hill tops in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Many sieges and a few open battles were recorded in detail by three chroniclers. After several generations of war the local lords were defeated and dispossessed by the (mainly French) Catholic crusaders. The Cathars were exterminated - burned alive by the hundred. The first Papal Inquisition ensured that there would be no re-emergence of the Cathar religion. Their castles fell into the hands of the victors, and the area was annexed to France. The castles were reinforced or rebuilt or destroyed.

Some were turned into Royal fortresses but after a few centuries the borders of France moved even further south to the Pyrenees and the Royal castles were no longer needed for border defences and were slighted. Today you can visit many so-called Cathar Castles in the Languedoc. A few, such as Carcassonne , have been restored. Many others are spectacular, romantic and unbearably poignant. They are a major tourist attraction. On the right at the top of the page is one of the most famous at Montségur . This was the Cathars' last real stronghold, which fell after 10 months of siege in 1244. You can read more about the cathars, their beliefs, their history and their legacy at Most of the main "Cathar Castles" advertised to tourists as romantic vestiges of the Cathar period are no such thing. They are generally castles built by the French after the Cathar Crusade, and used to defend their new border with Aragon. These castles were slighted, or left to decay, after the Treaty of the Pyrenees in the seventeenth century.

They are often built on the site of earlier castles occupied by vassals and allies of the Counts of Toulouse during the Cathar period. Broadly there are five categories of "Cathar Castle". Genuine Cathar Castles, advertised as Cathar Castles: There are very few of these, although you may 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 three quarters of Lastours (Cabaret) . Later French Castles built on the site of Cathar strongholds, advertised as Cathar Castles: Coustaussa , Puilaurens , Montségur , Queribus , Termes , Aguilar and Saissac . French Castles with no Cathar connections, but sometimes advertised as Cathar Castles: such as Arques . Cathar Castles not generally advertised as Cathar Castles although they are: Pieusse , Le Bézu , Usson .

Sites of Cathar Castles: Béziers , Toulouse , Bram , Marmande , Lavaur , Minerve , Beaucaire , Castelnaudary . There are also castles of interest because of their links with events during the Cathar period, for example: Avignonet , where Cathar sympathisers helped some particularly unpleasant Inquisitors into their next incarnations. Villerouge Termenès , a castle belonging the the Archbishop of Narbonne, 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. The castles of the Cathar country The castles of the Cathar country Typical towns and cities Land of history and tourism, of warmth and authenticity, Aude is a department which knows how to deal with paradoxes. Whether it be the Cathar castles or the Canal du Midi, Carcassonne the warrior or Lagrasse the contemplative, in Aude lands, you're on a land with a unique character.

Chargement de la carte en cours The castle of Villerouge-Termenès The castle of Aguilar The ruins of the castle of Aguilar crown a rocky outcrop in the middle of the famous vineyard of Upper Fitou , and scrubland. The oldest part is the upper chamber, directed towards the attacking side. It dates from the 12th century. In the 12th century, the castle belongs to the lords of Termes. King Louis IX establishes a garrison in 1246. The Royal Engineers alter the castle, in the late 13th century. This is one of the "five sons of Carcassonne ", who oversaw the border with Aragon. After several spanish attacks in the 14th century, it was finally abandoned in 1659. The castle of Aguilar (Aude-11) GPS : lat. 42° 53" 18' - lon.

2° 43" 4' 11350 TUCHAN Read more The castle of Arques Located 50 km south of Carcassonne , the site of Arques is a haven of peace washed by the lake and surrounded by woods. A few hundred meters west of the village, the golden stones of the castle of Arques rise on top of a hill. This ensemble from the 13th and 14th centuries, dominated by an elegant tower of 25 meters high, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, which combines luxury and military aspect. Fully restored, it is the witness of the technical and artistic expertise of the builders of medieval times, portraying the taste and wealth of the masters of the place. The tour continues to the centre of the village of Arques, in the House Deodat Roché, museum of the Catharism. The castle of Arques (Aude-11) GPS : lat. 42° 57" 9' - lon.

2° 22" 26' 11190 ARQUES Read more The 4 castles of Lastours The site of Lastours is an outstanding ensemble at the heart of the Black Mountain, with its four castles built atop a rocky outcrop. Cabaret (the largest), Surdespine, Tour Régine and Quertinheux, dominate the streams of Orbiel and Grézilhou, deeply stoked into the valley. The access to the "mountain of castles" is the heart of the village of Lastours, through the former sheets factory Rabier. It now houses the ticket office, a permanent exhibition and a restaurant. It is also possible to discover the castles from the Belvedere of Montfermier which offers an incomparable view of the site and its surroundings. The four castles of Lastours became important during the Albigensian Crusade, for they controlled at that time the access to the Black Mountain. At the time of the Cathars, the lord of Cabaret is closely linked to the followers of the new religion and was assaulted by the Crusaders as soon as 1209.

The 4 castles of Lastours (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Peyrepertuse Peyrepertuse stands on the top of a great promontory on the southern Corbières. This huge fortress equals in size the City of Carcassonne . The extent of its remains and the quality of its constructions make this castle the most important ensemble and the most outstanding example of medieval architecture in Languedoc. Built on a ridge overlooking a vertiginous drop, the castle has three enclosures spanning over 300 meters long which enclose within their walls more than a hectare of buildings: homes, chapels and garrison halls. Each year hosts the largest medieval festival in southern France : many troupes enliven the castle and a restored medieval village. Peyrepertuse became a french stronghold in 1240 : Louis IX makes it a formidable stronghold in the southern border of the kingdom of France. This huge fortress was part of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne".

The castle of Peyrepertuse (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Puilaurens Strategic site, about 700 m height, the castle of Puilaurens stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the village of Lapradelle, amidst a pine forest. The castle has two distinct architectural ensembles. The first chamber houses the dungeon and a tower called "Tour of the White Lady." After a rocky path, the first defensive elements of the Cathar castle arise, with a device and a chicanery which complicated the access to the castle in case of attack. The castle hosted many Cathars personalities, who lived in hiding. Puilaurens was for four centuries the most southern fortress in France. It was locking the access to Fenouillèdes and was one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne". The castle of Puilaurens (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Puivert Among the buildings from the first half of the 14th century, the castle Puivert, in the hinterland called the Quercorb, has certainly been one of the best preserved.

Puivert gives an impression of serenity, everything is harmony, quiet power and grace. The imposing tower with five levels, peaking at 32 meters, is visible throughout the region, and retains several vaulted rooms. The sculptures in the Musicians Hall (salle des Musiciens) show the refinement brought to the decor of the castle: legend has it that Puivert hosted, in the 12th century, troubadours meetings. In the 12th century, the lords of Puivert are protective of the Cathars. The castle was conquered by Simon de Montfort in 1210. The village houses the Museum of Quercorb where Instrumentarium devoted to medieval music can be found. The castle of Puivert (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Quéribus This ancient royal fortress, one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", stands on an impressive rock. During the Albigensian Crusade, the castle, ruled by Chabert de Barbaira, hosted many persecuted Cathars. In 1255, eleven years after Montségur, this last bastion of the southern resistance falls to the Crusaders.

The castle is renowned for its polygonal tower and Gothic hall whose roof rests on a circular pillar blooming like a palm tree. From the tower, perched at 728 meters, one can admire great views: the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean sea , and the plain of Roussillon and the Corbières. The castle of Quéribus is close to Cucugnan, famous for "The sermon of the priest of Cucugnan", a book by Alphonse Daudet. This story is brought to the theater Achille Mir, in the village. The castle of Quéribus (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Saissac At the heart of the Black Mountain , northwest of Carcassonne , the castle of Saissac stands in front of a unique landscape, crossed on its horizon by the Pyrenees. In the Middle Ages, powerful lords dominate Saissac and the entire Black Mountain. Protectors of the troubadours, they are also Cathars believers. They are great vassals of the Viscounts of Carcassonne, and support them in their struggle in the famous Albigensian Crusade.

Erected below the village, the fortifications of the castle stand vertically to a staggering ravine. The ruined tower still stands proudly in the centre of the enclosure. Two restored rooms house a museum on the Monetary Treasure of Saissac composed of 2000 deniers of the 13th century. The castle of Saissac (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Termes In the Hautes Corbières, the village of Termes clings picturesquely against the side of a hill. It remains under the protection of its castle which dominates the village, on the top of a rocky ridge, in an absolutely magnificent protected site, offering a unique view of the entire region. Who could imagine today that the remains that lie here are those of one of the largest medieval lordships of Languedoc! In 1210, during the Albigensian Crusade, the fortress withstood four months to the Crusaders, commanded by Simon de Montfort. This impregnable eagle nest, became a royal fortress and held an important strategic position, facing the Aragonese border. It was one of the "Five sons of Carcassonne ".

The castle of Termes (Aude-11) GPS : Read more The castle of Villerouge-Termenès South of Carcassonne and Narbonne , Villerouge-Termenès is the Mediterranean door to the High Corbières. Located in the heart of the medieval village, the imposing rectangular castle with four towers commands respect. The eastern wing of the building houses a very original audiovisual tour: "The World of Guilhem Belibaste, the last Cathar Perfect ". The tour puts you directly in the Middle Ages: The destinies of Bélibaste (burned in 1321 in Villerouge) and the archbishop of Narbonne, Bernard de Farges (lord of the domain) mention the Cathars, the power of the archbishop of Narbonne and the daily life in the 14th century. To extend this journey through history, have lunch in the Medieval Grill (Rôtisserie Médiévale), located in the castle. It is unique in France, by its historically restored decorum and plates, and its recipes from the Middle Ages specially restored and translated for Villerouge by leading specialists.

The castle of Villerouge-Termenès (Aude-11) GPS : Cathar Castles In France's Languedoc Region By James Martin Updated January 25, 2016. The Cathars were a simple people. The framework for their belief is found in the Sermon on the Mount. They opposed gross materialism, especially as practiced by the church of the time. They doubted the divinity of Jesus. God ruled in heaven and the devil controlled the earth. These beliefs, of course, got them in big trouble with the established church, who found themselves holding a powerful position in the highly material world. So, like many simple societies that expressed alternative beliefs, they became fodder for the dominant culture's bonfires. The inquisition tested itself with the Cathars. The Cathars lost--but not before they had inhabited some mighty fine castles to keep back the hordes after their necks. Religious persecution is often some of the world's cruelest. And the remnants of the alternative sect's isolation can be seen in both Cathar castles and in the monasteries of Meteora (pictures) in Greece.

The Best of Cathar Country along the Aude South of Carcassonne I. The Easiest Cathar Castles to get to Chateau d'Arques--The parking lot is close to the Chateau, only a small elevation change gets you to the gate. continue reading below our video Beware! The 5 Most Common Travel Scams This is one of the few Cathar structures to exist on flat land. A plane tree shaded drive takes you from the Chateau to the city of Arques, where you'll find a small museum which is free with your ticket to the chateau. You can buy local honey at the entrance. Arques is first mentioned in a document written in 1011. Construction of the Castle's donjon (the main tower) was started in 1280. It has four floors, accessed through spiral staircases, with good views of the surrounding countryside. See pictures of Chateau d'Arques . Chateau de Puivert--This chateau is on a hill, but you can drive most of the way up. It has a tower with four stories you can visit.

But the interesting part of Puivert is in the stone carvings in the chapel revealing people playing medieval musical instruments. These eight instruments have been replicated and at the museum Quercorb-Puivert you can see them and hear them being played through a multimedia display (there is a sample of the music on the page referenced above). In the village of Puivert there is also a shop on the river where you can buy hand-carved marionettes. II. The Best Cathar Castles to Visit Here are the best castles, but reaching them may be a challenge. Chateau de Peyrepertuse a Duilhac--If you see only one Cathar castle, make it Peyrpertuse. You can drive most of the way up to its limestone outcrop, but the trail, on worn limestone footing, takes you around the back of the castle and undergoes several elevation changes. They won't let you use the path in a storm. It's treacherous when wet. You can see Peyrepertuse easily in one day along with nearby Chateau de Queribus in Cucugnan and Chateau de Puilaurens in Lapradelle. The drive between them is quite nice.

A lunch stop in Cucugnan is recommended. There are three restaurants. We had a very nice lunch at Auberge de Vigneron (A Logis de France Hotel Restaurant). They have a terrace overlooking the Chateau de Queribus but weren't serving outside that day for some reason, a fact that made people quite upset. Still, the 22 Euro menu featured some wonderful food presented well. (phone 68 45 03 00 within France). For a map of Cathar Country see our Aude Map and Travel Resources History of the Cathars Find out about Cathar history and the Albigensian Crusade by using our Cathar History and Resource Directory . A word about the Inter-Site card You may be offered an Inter-Site Card that gives you discounts to the museums and castles of Cathar country. I've found that at the time of our visit, the card did not live up to its promises. Twice we were told that there had been a change of contract and the places we were visiting were no longer offering a discount. Read the terms carefully. The card is less expensive now, and can offer a slight discount if you intend on visiting three or more castles or museums.

Cathar & other castles in the Languedoc-Roussillon, south of France Home > Sightseeing > Cathar & other Medieval Castles Cathar & other Medieval Castles in the Languedoc-Roussillon Knights were ordered to wipe out the Cathar religion The Medieval period, or more accurately the ‘High-Medieval Period (1000-1300AD) is probably the most interesting in Languedoc’s history - one alive with gory dramas, religious fervour and constantly shifting power-bases. Languedoc was relatively more important and wealthy at the turn of the first millennium, and its verdant lands were much prized by the powers of the time - the Frankish kings to the north, the English Plantagenets to the west, the increasingly powerful Spanish to the south, and the ruthless Papacy in Rome, with its tentacles reaching throughout the region via its network of churches, abbeys and cathedrals.

It’s this Medieval period that has given us our most spectacular castles - a window in time, if you like, when the technology to erect massive, stone battlements had reached its apogee - yet to be eclipsed by the technology required to destroy them. Because by the 1500s, the canon was making the castle increasingly redundant, and Languedoc’s fortifications - scenes of countless sieges and the stuff of legend - had fallen in to disrepair. A little history behind the 'Cathar' Castles The Cathars sort refuge in castles now known as 'Cathar Castles' It’s important to note that, despite all the talk of ‘Cathar Castles’ - the castles of Languedoc were not built for or by the Cathars. They were built by local lords for the very same reasons castles were being built across Europe - to protect territory. The ‘Cathar Castles’ perched on rocky outcrops in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments were constructed by both the Spanish and the local knights of Languedoc to keep each other’s armies at bay.

As were the Châteaux of Salses and Castlenau. Similarly, the citadel at Carcassonne was enlarged primarily as a bulwark against the Spanish at the western end of Languedoc. This is why Languedoc’s castles are all situated in the south and west of the region. The moniker ‘Cathar Castles’ came purely from the fact that these defensive structures were used temporarily by the Cathars as refuge from marauding crusaders. Tragic and romantic in equal measure, the poignant image of the devout followers of a simpler religion huddled within the battlements of castles atop windswept mountains - arrows and boulders raining down on them - has lingered over the years. So powerful has the imagery been that Languedoc’s castles are now primarily known and marketed as ‘Cathar Castles’ - a booming sector of France’s tourism industry was born. The Languedoc and Roussillon regions were not part of ‘France’ during medieval times. The still relatively small kingdom of France was confined to the region around Paris.

In fact, Languedoc or ‘Occitanie’ was a collection of smaller states, their borders and allegiances constantly shifting, each ruled by its own noble family. This was the heart of ‘Troubadore’ country, one of the richest cultural scenes in Europe, with ideas drifting in westward from Italy and Eastern Europe, and from the south via Catalonia and the Kingdom of Aragon. It was from the east that an idea seeped into the region’s culture that set the scene for one of Europe’s biggest culture clashes. That idea was ‘Catharism’ - an alternative and competing idea of Christianity to Catholic orthodoxy. It is said to have originated amongst Gnostic Christians in Persia, and spread slowly westwards via Byzantium up into northern Italy, southern Germany and then into southern France. Suffocated by the corruption and overbearing arrogance of the Catholic church, Catharism found fertile ground in Languedoc, its simpler, less garish, less corrupt, less power-hungry and more egalitarian take on God appealing to a population tired of being trampled upon by greedy priests and bossy bishops.

At first ignored, it was eventually quashed by a ‘crusade’ unleashed from Rome - which was in actual fact a thinly-veiled excuse for northern knights to carry out a bloody land-grab which, eventually, extended the borders of ‘France’. Catharism didn’t produce the area’s castles, but it did imbue them with a million-dollar aura of tragedy and heroism. As always, we have cherry-picked what we feel are the most interesting and impressive of the region’s castles. Of the ‘Cathar Castles’ - we have chosen Carcassonne’s Citadel of course - due to its sheer size and magnificence. Of the smaller, more atmospheric Cathar castles, we’ve chosen Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens and Las Tours - because they’re all relatively well intact, easy to access and have interesting histories. Château d’Arques is included because it’s such an interesting, elegant design. And Montségur because it was supposedly the ‘last stand’ of the Cathars.

Of the non-Cathar castles, we’ve included Salses because it’s such a good example of a late-Medieval castle, with its low, compact structure designed to resist canon balls. And Castelnau - because the castle and its skirt of village is just so stunning from a distance, and the village has some lovely artisanal shops. Europe Travel Itineraries | Travel Itinerary Ideas STAGE 2 - Béziers Châteaux de Lastours From Montségur, continue north to Béziers, where you can stay in the charming former coaching inn La Bastide Cabezac . The hotel sits among vineyards and olive trees, just minutes from the beautiful and secluded beaches of Portiragnes and Serignan. Béziers itself was the first to be attacked in the crusades against the Cathars, reaching the town on 21 July 1209. No-one was spared in the massacre and the town was burned down. As a result, nothing is left of the Viscounts' Castle in Béziers, but the town still bears scars inflicted by the crusaders and it’s an important site for history buffs.

Béziers, one of the oldest cities in France, is a great base to explore the national park, haute Languedoc. Wander the walking trails through the wooded hillsides and be sure to visit the Châteaux de Lastours, four picturesque so-called Cathar castles , perched high on a rocky spur above the village of Lastours. Prev Stage Proceed to PREV STAGE Proceed to NEXT STAGE STAGE 3 - Cuq-Toulza Head north-west to Cuq Toulza and check into the ever-peaceful Hotel Cuq en Terrasses . The former presbytery also sits on a hill, its eight rooms and suites overlooking a beautiful 12,000m2 garden and surrounded by wheat and sunflower fields. Cuq-Toulza is just 18km from La Pomarède, which was also besieged in the crusades. La Pomarède is centred on a partially preserved Cathar castle which is now the property of the commune. Today there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant within the fortress walls.

Prev Stage Proceed to PREV STAGE Proceed to NEXT STAGE STAGE 4 - Carcassonne End your journey at Carcassonne, the site of the best-known - and most-restored - Cathar castle, the Cité de Carcassonne , an impenetrable-looking citadel boasting 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long double surrounding walls interspersed by 52 towers. Even though the town’s history goes back about 2,500 years, encompassing Gauls, Romans, Visigoths and Saracens, as well as the crusaders, in 1849, the French government demanded the fortifications be demolished. The locals objected fervently and the decision was reversed, with restoration work starting in 1853. By the end of the 19th century, the work was complete and in 1997 it was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Stay at the Chateau de Floure , which sits on the old Roman road, the Via Aquitania.

This beautiful spa hotel has wonderful country views and is just 10 minutes from Canal du Midi, where you can row, canoe, fish and boat, as well as cycling, roller-skating or hiking along its banks. Before you jump on your plane home from Carcassonne airport, be sure to visit another nearby castle, the breathtakingly vertiginous Le Château de Puilaurens. This mini tour of a lesser-known area of France will leave you relaxed, reflective and rejuvenated. Prev Stage Cathar Castle Tours in the Languedoc: home Historical Tours of Cathar Castles in deep rural France Led by James McDonald Cathar Castles in the Languedoc We offer top-of-the-range tours centred on the Cathars of the Languedoc, all conducted in English, on location in the Pays Cathare "Cathar Country" in France. The Cathar movement and the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars were two of the most important events in European history - with many, often surprising, world-wide resonances even today, eight centuries later.

The Castrum and Château Fort (Castle) of Carcassonne Our organized tours are led by an English speaking expert on Catharism who lives locally, just south of Carcassonne in the heart of Cathar Country. He has written a number of books and is the author of the leading English Language website on the Cathars ( ). You will not need to speak any French on our escorted tours. Our Unique Seling point is that our tours cover historical information in much greater breadth and depth than any other source, and are founded on primary sources. Tours include guided visits to "Cathar Castles" and other Cathar related sites, informal illustrated lectures and talks on Catharism, Cathar beliefs and practices, the concept of heresy, Medieval warfare and the Albigensian Crusade, along with the history of the "Pays Cathare" - Cathar Country. Talks also cover the ancient culture of the area including the role of the medieval Counts of Toulouse and the medieval Inquisition. You can also learn about the local language, Occitan, the first post-classical literary language of Europe, spoken throughout Occitania.

(Occitan was the language of the troubadours and the first language of Richard the Lionheart). The Château Fort (Castle) of Foix Information provided includes historical and cultural background, illustrations, maps and timelines - even an introduction to the esoteric world of Gnostic Dualism. You will learn how to spot medieval Cathars and how to besiege a Medieval Castle. Escorted visits include trips to key historic locations such as Carcassonne and Montsegur. While we endeavor to ensure strict historical accuracy of the information provided, we appreciate that this is a vacation in the South of France, rather than a university course. - and no one will mind if you decide to spend some of your holiday sitting in the Languedoc sun and drinking some of the famous Languedoc wines. We offer a choice of tour. You will find a summary of dates for scheduled tours here and a tour calendar here . The Battle of Muret, 1213 Tour Leader The tour is lead by the author James McDonald. James has extensive experience as a public speaker and broadcaster, and lives locally in the heart of Cathar Country.

His has an encyclopedic knowledge of all aspects of Catharism and its history in the Languedoc. He is an author and the translator of Voltaire's work on the Cathars, published in English as "The Crusade Against the People of the Languedoc". Click on the following link for more on James McDonald >>> The Château Fort (Castle) of Montsegur

Question: The Cathar Castles are in which European country?
Answer: France