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Cathar Castles
See the World Heritage-listed walled citadel at Cathar Castles and get a glimpse into one of the most dramatic periods of French history. Locals often refer to these castles as "cinq fils de Carcassonne," the five sons of Carcassonne. Built by the French kings to protect the country's southern border against invasions from Spain, the structures stand on spots once occupied by small but heavily fortified villages. Abandoned after France and Spain signed a peace treaty in 1659, the fortresses lost their importance and slowly fell into disrepair. Restored in the 20th century, Carcassonne's castles and their citadel now serve as the region's main tourist attractions. Before you head to Carcassonne, plan trip itinerary details with our user-friendly Carcassonne trip planner, to make sure you see all that Carcassonne has to offer, including Cathar Castles.
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Cathar Castles reviews
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Visited the base of Château de Quéribus and Peyrepertuse for the view. These castle ruins were the last strong holds of the Cathars, a Christian dualist sect in western France. They are perched at...
Visited the base of Château de Quéribus and Peyrepertuse for the view. These castle ruins were the last strong holds of the Cathars, a Christian dualist sect in western France. They are perched at... more »
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Cathar Castles are a lot of castles, which are related with Cathare period in Middle-Ages, and they are located in Occitaine Region, in the South of France. Some of them are in ruins, some of them...
Cathar Castles are a lot of castles, which are related with Cathare period in Middle-Ages, and they are located in Occitaine Region, in the South of France. Some of them are in ruins, some of them... more »
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Truly an epitome of the medieval history ! It’s a huge chateau, with spectacular views of the city ! The good thing is if you are fond of history, this place offers a relaxed and detailed stroll through the castle! We visited in March on a rainy day, so it was rather isolated which made it that much easier for us😀 if visiting in summer, you can also get a view of the vineyards in distance and it’s incredible !!
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Fantastic place to visit, you can walk around the towers and along the outer walls and find out about the remodelling and restoration work done. It could really do with a better museum though - there was nothing to explain the timeline of the buildings outside of the famous Cathar period.
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