Castle and Ramparts of the walled City of Carcassonne
CARCASSONNE
Château de Peyrepertuse dans l'Aude, Gilles Crespin
Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux dans le Lot, D Viet
Château de Collioure dans les Pyrénées-Orientales, H.ARGENCE - OT Collioure
Château de Mauriac dans le Tarn, D Viet
With almost 300 castles to visit, Occitania is like a kingdom filled with heroic figures, military architecture, winding corridors and countless towers.
They are concentrated in Aude and Ariège. Montségur, Foix, Roquefixade, Lastours as well as Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Termes and Aguilar (the "5 sons of Carcassonne"): these hilltop castles reign over breathtaking landscapes.
Experience an encounter with the Cathars who challenged the Pope in the 13th century. The castles where they found refuge during the crusade against the Cathars are places with real soul and giving rise to powerful emotions.
Château de Montségur en Ariège, D Viet
Well worth a visit
See the Pyrenees joining up with the Mediterranean in the distance, look down on the Corbières mountains and the beautiful village of Cucugnan below: a truly exceptional view awaits you at Quéribus castle (Aude).
They are called the "vertigo citadels", and you will see why when you watch this video (© Freeway Prod). The Cathar Country castles (Aude) are among the major sites of Occitania and are in the running to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
In Occitania you can explore a remarkable heritage left behind by the mighty feudal lords. They include Gaston Phébus, the Counts of Toulouse, the Counts of Armagnac…
Occitania was independent from the kingdom of France until the 13th century and played a key role during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453): many castles were built to face neighbouring Aquitaine, which was then ruled by the English.
In our castles and châteaux, you can also savour all the elegance of the Renaissance and the pomp of the 18th century.
Château de Foix en Ariège, D Viet
Several finely built castles, such as Merville, Caumont, Laréole, Mauriac will take you back in time, from the Middle Ages to the age of the Enlightenment. Some of the castles are located on grandiose sites, such as the Penne and Bruniquel castles in the Aveyron Gorges.
The Flaugergues and La Mogère castles are among the "Languedoc follies" adorning Montpellier.
Along the shores of the Mediterranean are other princely castles, such as the ducal castle ("the Duchy") of Uzès, the royal castle of Collioure and the Saint-Elme fort looking down on the Côte Vermeille.
Château de Flaugergues dans l'Hérault, OT Montpellier
Original
30 minutes north of Toulouse, the château de Merville has the biggestboxwood maze in Europe (6 km). Here you can lose yourself and enjoy trails with puzzles and games!
In Gascony, D’Artagnan's native land, the castles are majestically anchored in the famous Gers valleys. As can be seen in the castles of Flamarens, Plieux, Lavardens.
In the Lot-region (formerly the province of Quercy), your thirst for history will also be quenched with the exquisite castles of Castelnau-Bretenoux and Montal in the Dordogne valley, and the castles of Larroque-Toirac and Cénevières in the Lot valley, for example.
Château de Montal dans le Lot, D Viet
Forteresse de Najac en Aveyron, D Viet
Aveyron (formerly the earldom of Rouergue) is well supplied with castles that seem to come straight out of a children's book about knights. They include the castles of Najac, Brousse, Calmont d’Olt, Valon,...
In the untamed surroundings of Aubrac and Cévennes, you can add the castles of Portes, La Baume, du Castanet and du Champ to your list of favourites.
Discover the castles of Occitania : around Toulouse or Montpellier but also the castles of the Cathar country like the castle of Montségur and the castle of Quéribus, the fortresses of Quercy, Rouergue, Cevennes, ...
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