Vacation Day 3: More Castles!

Le château de Puilaurens

This castle, called Castèl de Puèglhaurenç in the regional dialect, Occitan, was originally of Aragonese possession (so, Spanish, not French) and provided shelter to those fleeing the French forces during the crusade. It dates to the first decade or so of 1200s.

Entrance

Interior courtyard and remains of structures

Courtyard

Dungeon, chapel and still-standing dwellings

Into the dungeon

View from the tower

Le château de Quéribus

The castle Quéribus is another border-protector along the former Franco-Spanish border. It is also known as the last Cathar stronghold, since those who were able to survive and escape Montségur made their way to Quéribus. After a short three-week siege in 1255, the castle fell to the crusading forces.

Main structure and dwelling

Vaulted room

Outside the salle du pilier and the spiral staircase tower

The pilier in the center of the room

View from Quéribus

Le château de Peyrepertuse

Within sight of le château de Quéribus is this huge castle, Castèl de Pèirapertusa in Occitan. It's name means "pierced rock," and this castle, like the others, was a border castle.

Lower section, from above

The older, lower section was built by the kings of Aragon (Spain) and dates from before 1000.

Upper section, from below

The upper part of the castle was built some 200 years after the lower, this time by French king Louis IX in 1242.

Escalier Saint-Louis

The Saint Louis Staircase connects the two sections of the castle and is named for Louis IX, who is the only canonized French monarch, and was seen as "the model of the ideal Christian monarch."

Dwelling ruins

Chapelle Saint-Jordi

Named after the rock atop which it perches, Sant Jòrdi, this is the highest point of the castle. The view is stunning!

Le château d'Aguilar

This castle is the smallest and least-visited of the major border castles. Built in the 1100s and 1200s, the castle is made up of two protective walls, one within the other. Despite being in much worse condition than the others along the border (due to significantly less funding), this was one of my two favorite castles of the two-day adventure. I really like the small and intimate feeling. The remains of the towers, with their various-styled archer's windows and other visible means of defense was interesting to see, all packed into one small fortress.

Chapelle Sainte-Anne

Chapelle Saint-Anne

Inside the inner wall

Dwelling and dungeon structures

My other favorite of the excursion was the first one of the day: Puilaurens. It was just a magnificent structure, and being there in the morning sun just can't be topped!