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CHÂTEAU DE TERMES

Castle
4.4/5
48 review

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Carte de l'emplacement de l'établissement
2, Camin dal Castel, 11330Terms, France Show on map
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2025
Recommended
2025

Castle belonging to the de Termes seignorial family, rebuilt and destroyed by royal order in the century, with the lower wall preserved

After a winding road through the heart of nature, the château rises on a rocky promontory in a majestic setting, with a breathtaking view over a wild landscape. The de Termes lordly family appears in written records in 1061. At the head of a vast feudal district, Termenès, the site came under siege from Simon de Montfort in 1210, during the Crusade against the Albigensians, which made the place famous. Raymond de Termes, who was imprisoned and died in the Cité de Carcassonne, was a Cathar sympathizer, and his brother Benoît de Termes was appointed Cathar bishop. Attached to the French crown in 1228 and used as a stronghold guarding the border with Aragon, the fortress was remodelled in the 13th century, then destroyed by order of the king in the 17th century. The lower enclosure is the best preserved: the curtain walls have retained their full elevation, giving the overall profile of the castle, with its postern overlooking the gorges (beware of vertigo! We advise you to give your children a hand). The second enclosure features various elements excavated by archaeologists, the scattered remains of the destroyed keep, and above all, the chapel. Step inside and you'll discover two Romanesque openings, one of them cruciform. In fact, this cruciform window has become the castle's signature feature. The tour begins with a 12-minute film giving an overview of the castle's history. From the reception desk, it's a 15-minute climb up to the top. An illustrated guide is available on loan, so you can visit at your own pace.

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4.4/5
48 reviews
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Visited in november 2024
A visitar. Referent a la historia
Visited in october 2024
Està molt trinxat, no val la pena pagar la entrada
Visited in october 2024
Château cathare très intéressant à visiter dans un cadre agréable. Parking à proximité du village. Le petit chemin qui mène au village est fréquenté par de nombreux papillons aux vols enchanteurs. Pensez à observer les petites maisons de souris au pied des platanes de la rue principale qui mène aux châteaux. Pour petits et grands, c'est un moment hors du temps. L'accès au château nécessite quelques minutes de marche, mais l'accès est facile. Privilégiez les visites hors saison. La forêt aux couleurs d'automne est magnifique.
Visited in october 2024
Awesome visit of the location if the first crusade launched against “heretics” on Christian soil, the Cathares. Bring a water bottle!
Visited in september 2024
Lieu visité il y a un moment déjà mais je faisais le point des différents châteaux visités dans le secteur et je n'avais pas laissé d'avis sur celui là (ce sera chose faite)

Accès par le village qui est très jolie, puis un accueil très sympathique avec des personnes charmantes qui donnent les explications sur la visite.
Une petit grimpette est vous arrivez aux ruines du châteaux dans un cadre magnifique avec une vue sur les alentours superbes.
Documents, panneaux et application téléphone pour pleins d'informations sur ce lieu.

Une belle promenade en famille de bons souvenirs

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