Cathar castles

The term Cathar colloquially referred to a number of medieval castles in the Cathar country, that is in today's Languedoc-Roussillon region in southwestern France. However, it is important to distinguish between ' true ' and ' false ' Cathar castles - both types have in common their exposed position on high mountain peaks.

Genuine Cathar

The real Katharerfestungen ( one speaks better of castra = fortified hilltop settlements ) were built before and during the time of the Albigensian Crusade ( 1209-1229 ) of followers of Catharism reasons of defense of their lives and their faith. The few early Cathar castles are older (eg Châteaux de Lastours, castle Termes ), but were in the late 12th and early 13th century by the lords who had accepted the Katharerglauben, or were close to him at least mastered.

In the early days of Catharism, there were only a few strongholds in the Cathar. The followers of the movement lived under the protection of the cities or in fortified hilltop settlements, which sometimes were in the protection of the castle of sympathizing with the movement of local princes and usually enclosed by ditches and / or stone walls were - stone towers did not exist in the castra. Such systems were in LAURAC, Lastours, Fanjeaux, Mas -Saintes - Puelles and elsewhere. One can therefore only limited by a " Cathar architecture" talk. Most of these castra were razed during the Albigensian Crusade and later rebuilt as a royal castles, such as Montsegur, Termes or Puilaurens.

Incorrect Cathar

The so-called false Cathar castles are indeed in Cathar country, but were only after the victorious end of the war against the Albigenses, that is, in the period after 1229 or 1240/4, built by the French kings or their governors to prevent any resurgence of heresy and the separatist tendencies in Occitania to prevent and to the power of presence of the king of impressively document. At the same time she also served as fortresses to the French crown against the claims to power of the Kingdom of Aragon.

One of the first royal fortresses in Occitania was the Cité de Carcassonne, was construction of which commenced after the failed conquest attempt by Raimund II Trencavel ( 1240). It was followed by five castles (Les cinq fils de Carcassonne ), a chain of border fortresses against the territorial and political interests of the Crown of Aragon, whose dominion at that time was still part of the Roussillon formed in the first place:

  • Castle Aguilar
  • Peyrepertuse
  • Castle Puilaurens
  • Quéribus
  • Termes castle

Decline of castles

Goods which were destroyed castra of the Cathars already in the time of the Albigensian Crusades, as well as the royal forts after the signing of the Pyrenees peace and marriage between Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Austria had become strategic military significance. They gradually fell into disrepair and were only shepherds and robbers as a refuge.

Other Castles in the Katharergebiet

In addition to the Katharerfestungen other castles were built in the former Katharergebiet; these are - with a few exceptions - mostly on level ground:

  • Castle of Arques
  • Castle Durfort
  • Castle Miglos
  • Miramont castle
  • Castle Niort -de -Sault
  • Castle Padern
  • Castle Pieusse
  • Castle Puivert
  • Castle Roquefixade
  • Castle Saissac
  • Castle Usson
  • Castle Ville -Termenès
Château de Termes Mas-Saintes-Puelles Puilaurens Castle Raymond II Trencavel Château d'Aguilar Château d'Arques Château de Puivert Château de Roquefixade
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