The four castles of Lastours, located in an area that bears witness to a wealthy economy built around metallurgy.
A breathtaking view, a steep landscape, castles perched 300 m high on a ridge above the valley... Lost in time and space, we marvel at the châteaux of Lastours, the first site in the département to be listed in 1905. And rightly so: situated between the Orbiel river and the Grézilhou torrent, the site has endured despite multiple assaults during the Crusade against the Albigensians, and later during the Wars of Religion. The site comprises 4 towers: the castles of Cabaret, Surdespine, Quertinheux and the Tour Régine. You can also discover the castral village of Cabaret, witness to a wealthy economy built around metallurgy. For centuries, castles controlled the passage of ore from the Montagne Noire. Lastours is also home to some forty caves and cavities. A true geological wonder.
Access to the castles is somewhat arduous, but a stop at the shaded belvedere allows you to admire two exceptional views of the site without having to do the whole walk. Housed in a restored former textile mill, the reception area serves as an exhibition room for archaeological artefacts recovered from excavations carried out on the site. A store offers an interesting selection of books on the heritage of the Aude region, as well as books and games for children. To find out more, download the "Guide du pays cathare" and "Castrum" applications.
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Members' reviews on LES QUATRE CHÂTEAUX DE LASTOURS
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Ça attaque fort dès le départ pour vous mettre dans l'ambiance par la montée des escaliers. Il y a 100 mètres de dénivelé jusqu'en haut.
Le parcours n'est pas adapté pour les handicapés et les poussettes.
Le chemin à faire n'est pas réellement protégé du vide donc je conseille fortement aux parents de tenir la main des jeunes enfants.
Des panneaux d'information sont mis aux abords des châteaux et édifices en ruine.
En résumé, un site à visiter par jour de beau temps de préférence.