Castles
Carcassonne
La Cité is permanently open and has around 600 people working in tourism. If you happen to have some time left after visiting the old shopping centre, you might also want to walk on the walls or take the tourist train. At night La Cité lights up beautifully.
Events: The Festival de la Cité with music, dance and theatre is held
in July. The city holds its fireworks display “Embrasement de la Cité”
on July 14. More about Carcassonne
More about Carcassonne
Foix
Le Château de Foix (the castle of Foix), which has three towers, is built upon a 58 metre high rock. The castle also houses a museum. Châteaux de Foix
Puivert
The castle of Puivert, a popular filming location, is the odd one out among the Cathar castles. The well preserved keep has four floors that are really worth seeing.. More information château de Foix
QuÉribus
The Châteaux de Quéribus (11th – 14th century), 40 km from Quillan, was built on a 730- metre-high rocky pinnacle. This castle was the last stronghold of the Cathar resistance The Châteaux de Quéribus fell in 1255. More information
Peyrepertuse
Peyrepertuse is located 37 km out of Quillan. At the beginning of the 11th century, a huge fortress, The Châteaux de Peyrepertuse, was built with a total of 2.5 km of walls. Neither horses, nor mules could reach this castle. In those days, the castle was a stronghold, including houses and a parish church. It perches at the crest of the Corbières region and guards the way to the Fenouillèdes region.More information
Puilaurens
Puilaurens lies about 28 km from Quillan. The castle of Puilaurens with its crenellated walls and excellent location at an altitude of 697 metres, might be the most beautiful of all the Cathar castles, even though few castles of that time still remain.
