Castle of Termes
The visit
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One of the most eventful sieges of the Crusade against the Albigensians
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| In the heart of a wild and distorted land, on a spectacular rock promontory, the ruins of the castle of Termes, a listed Historical Monument, dominate the Termenet gorges to the north and the village to the east. The visit of the site starts from the charming flowered village: walk around in the flowered lanes, enjoying the cool on the banks of the small stream, you will appreciate the atmosphere of this remote village where the rhythm of life is different. Don't miss the village church, its opening hours are the same as at the castle, and since 2009, new lightings allows to see a lot more of the inside. A traditional house shelters the ticketoffice/ boutique of the castle. Your visit of the castle starts here : - a film "Termes, the impregnable citadel?", gives an introduction to your visit. It's a French film with English under titles. - at the first floor, the exhibition "1210, the siege of the castle of Termes" allows to know all about the most important event in the history of the castle. It's translated in English. As with the other "Cathar Country” sites, a "Cultural Landmark' brochure is provided. You may also borrow a "Visitor's guide book”. Thus prepared, you may start your walk up to the site, passing between green oaks and surrounded by the smells of the garrigue vegetation. Termes was at first a Castrum, a fortified village with two boroughs, below a fortified castle. This feudal past is illustrated during the walk uphill as you come to a very eroded wall which is all that is left of the first outer wall dating from 1210. Further on, you accede to the castle through a ditch which used to defend the first of the two concentric curtain-walls forming the royal fortress. The lower curtain-wall is better conserved: some parts have kept their original height, giving an idea of the general profile of the castle of Termes, with, in particular, its postern gate overlooking the gorges. The second curtain-wall, in worse repair, is composed of different elements witch are still cleared of rubble by archaeologists every year since 2007. You discover the remains of the destroyed keep, a cistern with it's filler, and more importantly, the castral chapel. When closer you will see its two Romanesque openings, one of which is in a cruciform shape. This window in the shape of a cross has become the symbol of the castle. 800 years after the siege...your visit to Termes provides a great experience on one of the most important historical sites of the albigensian crusade. |
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| Château de Termes 11 330 Termes phone / fax: (+0033) 04.68.70.09.20 E-mail: chateau.termes@payscathare.org Site : www.chateau-termes.com Take the N113 up to Trebes, then the D3 towards Lagrasse, then the D212 and the D40 |
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