Cathar Castles

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Cathar Castles

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The Château de Puilaurens Legend has it that the walls of one of the castles, the Château de Puilaurens, are haunted at night by the famous White Lady. Vladimira Dvorakova / age fotostock;

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When we think of the 'Cathar castles', most people believe these were built at the time of the Cathars.
However, in spite of popular opinion, this idea is completely wrong.
Most of the castles now described as 'Cathar castles' had actually been built well before the 12th Century, and many of them share the same history. Built around the year 1000, they were feudal fortresses playing a military and economic role that increased considerably up until the 13th Century.
Their influence did not decline until after the Albigensian Crusade, but was then accelerated by the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which pushed the Spanish border south to its current position.
Gradually growing poorer and poorer, they were dealt their final deathblow by the French Revolution, which stripped them of their contents until their only use was as a source of stone for other buildings.
Though they stood for centuries, the 'Cathar castles' only sheltered the Cathar victims of the Inquisition for a fleeting moment, when they took refuge in the existing fortifications. Montségur castle is the exception, for it was built at the request of the Cathars for their protection.
The castles to see:
Château de Lastours
Château de Peyrpertuse
Château de Puilaurens
Château de Puivert
Château de Quéribus
Château de Saissac
Château de Termes
Château de Villerouge
Château d'Aguilar