French castles near self-catering holiday lets in Couiza, Aude, South France

French Castles

Castles and Chateaux in Languedoc-Roussillon

Dotted liberally across the landscape of Languedoc-Roussillon are many majestic castles, erected by the Templar Knights nearly a thousand years ago, built as fortifications to protect the Cathars from the invasion from the North. There are also chateaux, where the nobility of Languedoc once lived in comfort and spleandour.

The largest castle in Languedoc is in Carcassonne, which you can walk through and around, really getting a feel for what it must have been like in ancient times. Please see the Carcassonne page for more photos of that castle. In the summer they also have jousting tournaments at the castle with knights and their horses authentically decked out. Below are photos of other castles in the Languedoc, many of which you are welcome to visit to walk around the ancient ramparts.

Please click for holiday accommodation in the Languedoc.

Castle at Carcassonne Old City	Duc de Joyeuse Chateau in Couiza
Serres Castle	Coustassa Chateau
Chateau in Arques	Chateau in Arques, Languedoc, France

You may also be interested in visiting the Cathar Castles website, which has lots of information on the location, history and architecture of Cathar castles. There's also Cathar information in English with information on the Cathars of the Languedoc - their origins, history, beliefs, texts and martyrdom.