Peyrepertuse 1996
The Cathar country in the foothills of the French Pyrenees is one of my favourite places. I first went there in 1992 while living in Montpellier, then again in 1996, 2002 and most recently in 2011 with my family. I have pulled together a few photos from these trips and this first post features Château de Peyrepertuse and the nearby Château de Quéribus.
Château de Peyrepertuse 1996
Peyrepertuse is perched on a high ridge in the arid, herb-scented hills of the Corbières to the south of Carcassonne in the Languedoc region of France. The name of Peyrepetuse derived from the ancient Occitan language (the language of Oc = Languedoc) and means Pierced Rock. These castles mostly date from the 11th to 13th centuries, the most spectacular are on mountains to the south of Carcassonne, and not far from the Pyrenees. This part of France is quite remote and sparsely populated.
Pippin and Bella at Peyrepertuse in 2002.
The views across Languedoc from Peyrepertuse are spectacular, with sister castle Quéribus and the Pyrenees visible in the distance.A parapente soared around Peyrepertuse on my 1996 visit……
Soaring around Peyrepertuse, 1996
A new form of Christianity spread through the Languedoc and some other parts of France in the 10th and 11th centuries. The Cathars (or Albigensians) were immensely threatening to the Catholic church, and were proscribed as heretics by the Pope. The Albigensian crusades by the northern French armies, led for many years by the notoriously cruel Simon de Montfort, lasted from 1208 to 1271 and ended with the annexation of Languedoc to the French crown. It took the informers and torturers of the Holy Inquisition another 50 years to root out Cathars completely.
Peyrepertuse, 2002
During the Albigensian Crusade Peyrepertuse served as a Cathar haven and stronghold, but was handed over to French forces without a battle in 1240. Known as one of the “five sons of Carcassonne” — five castles along the border between France and Spain — the French fortified the castle in 1242 to protect the border.
At the gate joining the upper and lower castles, Peyrepertuse 2002
Peyrepertuse, 2002
Peyrepertuse’s sister castle Quéribus is visible on the distant mountain ridge just to the left of centre, lit by the setting sun.
Queribus from Peyrepertuse, 1996
Sunset from Peyrepeteuse, 1996
One of the five most famous Cathar castles, Quéribus was built in the 10th century, and became the property of the counts of Barcelona and then Aragon. After the fall of Montségur to the crusaders, some of the last Cathars retreated to the castle and the relative safety of its sheer mountain walls. It is smaller and better preserved than Peyrepertuse, but perhaps slightly less atmospheric.
Queribus, 1996
Mountains and rivers 
Like you, i adored the Cathar fortesses since the very first time I saw them . It was in July, 30 years ago, it was very hot and I understood easily why they had to surrender after months of siege, because of no water . Later I came back 2 or 3 times, once in winter, and the clouds reached the bottom of the lowest part of Peyrepertuse . From the upper part, it looked like a ship on a sea of clouds .
My favourites, apart from these 2, are Puylaurens and of cpurse Montségur . But, on the other side of the motorway, North, in the Montagne Noire, a Southern extension of the Massif Central, there also are Cathar fortresses . A very nice place is Lastours, three little castles on top of the hills with yews everywhere, and the city of Minerve, whose location on a cliff allowed the Cathars to resist for months too .
I have some nice photos of Montsegur and Puylaurens (my all time favorite) which I will put up soon. I have not been to the northern Cathar castles you mention. Will add them to my wish list.
I’m putting this on my list of places to vist. Great photos.