Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The most spectacular is the château of Peyrepertuse, where the ruins seem to grow
right out from the narrow splinter of cliff. The views are sensational—you can almost
reach out and touch Spain. Let your imagination soar, but watch your step as you try
to reconstruct this eagle's nest (€8.50 in July-Aug, €6 at other times, open daily April-
Sept-9:00-19:00—until 20:00 July-Aug, Oct-March 10:00-17:00, closed Jan, tel. 04 82
53 24 07, www.chateau-peyrepertuse.com ) . Canyon lovers will enjoy the detour to the
nearby and narrow Gorges de Galamus, just north of St-Paul de Fenouillet. Closer to
D-117, impressive Quéribus towers above the road and requires a steep hike. It's famous
as the last Cathar castle to fall, and was left useless after 1659, when the border between
France and Spain was moved farther south into the high Pyrenees (€5, daily April-Sept
9:30-19:00—until 20:00 July-Aug, Oct and March 10:00-18:00, Nov-Feb 10:00-17:00).
Sleeping and Eating near Peyrepertuse and Quéribus: To really get away (and I
mean really), sleep in the lovely little village of Cucugnan, located between the castles.
$$ L'Ecurie de Cucugnan is a friendly bed-and-breakfast with five comfortable rooms at
great rates, a view pool, and a shady garden (Sb-€55, Db-€66, includes breakfast, free Wi-
Fi, 2-room house-€550/week, 18 Rue Achille Mir, tel. 04 68 33 37 42, mobile 06 76 86 38
52, ecurie.cucugnan@orange.fr ) .
Near Caunes-Minervois
The next two Cathar sights tie in well with a visit to Caunes-Minervois (where I recom-
mend accommodations—see here ) and provide an easy excursion from Carcassonne, of-
fering you a taste of this area's appealing countryside.
Châteaux of Lastours
Ten miles north of Carcassonne, these four ruined castles cap a barren hilltop and give
drivers a handy (if less dramatic) look at the region's Cathar castles. From Carcassonne,
follow signs to Mazamet, then Conques-sur-Orbiel, then Lastours. In Lastours you can
hike to the castle or drive to a viewpoint.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search