The Four Châteaus of Lastours
You’ll be amazed by the Four Châteaus of Lastours, a monument in the Cathar country that is soon to have UNESCO World Heritage status!
A MEDIEVAL SAGA
The many archaeological findings at the Lastours site prove that it was occupied during the Bronze age, but it wasn’t until the 11th century that the Cabaret tower was built, and then the Surdespine and Quertinheux towers after that.
This powerful barony created wealth throughout the region, notably due to the extraction of iron ore. Three fortified villages were built around the towers, the biggest being the Cabaret camp. These camps provided accommodation for many residents and the barony experienced a long period of peace and prosperity.
The Cathar religion, newly developed from Christianity and considered to be heretical, started to take root in Cabaret. The Cabaret barons put up no opposition.
The village quickly became a hub for Catharism, as demonstrated by the many homes for Cathar nuns, deacons and bishops.
The village was unsuccessfully besieged during the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229) on two occasions: firstly in 1211 by Simon de Montfort, then in 1227 by Humbert de Beaujeu.
Despite everything, this crusade resulted in the three towers being destroyed. The same fate befell the villages and their residents, who were forced out of their homes.
Saint-Louis, King of France at the time, wanted to enforce his authority and take back control of the region, so he ordered four citadels to be built on the rocky ridge. The citadels retained their original names and the Régine tower was added. This tower’s name means the Queen’s tower, as a symbol of power and Royal authority.
During construction, the King decided to opt for an innovative military architectural approach, which has resulted in the application to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit the Four Châteaus of Lastours
Visit the Four Châteaus of Lastours and see this unique place with your own eyes!
With your hiking boots on, a cap and a bottle of water, you’ll be walking along the footpaths all the way up to two of the four towers that make up this architectural wonder, at the heart of the Montagne Noire. Once there, an incredible 2-hour visit awaits you!
To gain a better understanding of the history of the Four Châteaus of Lastours and to really experience the era of the Cathars, you can choose to follow a tour guide in paper version or download the two Cathar country applications. The ‘Pays Cathare, le guide’ application features audio explanations, images and even augmented reality! The ‘Castrum, le jeu’ application takes children on an immersive, fun and educational tour. These two applications can also be used at other monuments throughout the Cathar country, including the Château de Saissac.
After visiting the Four Châteaus of Lastours, admire the panoramic views of these monuments from the viewpoint, just a 2 km drive from the village.
If you would like to visit the Four Châteaus of Lastours as a group, there are guided tours available with prior bookings.
Dogs are also welcome as long as they are kept on a lead.
A classified, remarkable heritage site
The Four Châteaus of Lastours have been listed as French Historic Monuments since 1905 and as a Grand Site Occitanie since 2018 along with the city of Carcassonne and the castles of Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Termes, Puilaurens, and Aguilar.
They are also on the list of French monuments that have applied for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, along with the Citadelles du Vertige.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Opening hours:
- January: closed (except during school holidays)
- February – March: 9.30am to 5pm
- April – May – June – September: 9am to 6pm
- July and August: 9am to 8pm
- October – November – December: 9.30am to 5pm (closed on 25 December)
Prices
- Adults: €8
- Children: €3.50
- Students, job seekers, disabled people: €5
- adult group: €7
- child group: €3
CONTACT :
- +33 (0) 4 68 77 56 02
- chateaux.lastours@orange.fr
- 22 route des quatre châteaux, 11600 LASTOURS
