To be classified by UNESCO, the "royal fortresses of Languedoc" are no longer called "Cathar castles"

Twelve years of work, hundreds of pages of documents to fill out, an association shared by two departments (Aude and Ariège), and an architectural and historical truth to reestablish. In the hope of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the "royal fortresses of Languedoc" have just abandoned the name. fallacious of “Cathar castles”.

Located in the south of France, in the Occitanie region, between Aude and Ariège, along the southern border of the Massif Central and the eastern part of the Pyrenees, eight majestic fortresses are concerned: Aguilar, Carcassonne, Lastours, Montségur, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Quéribus, Termes. These are the most remarkable elements of the fortification system put in place in the ^13th century by the kings of France to assert their authority.

The application submitted at the beginning of the year, now supported by the State, will be accompanied by that of the Normandy Landing beaches, without the latter competing with it. These "royal fortresses" could thus become, in 2026, ^the 55th French site recognized by UNESCO, after the megaliths of Carnac and the banks of the Morbihan, classified on Saturday July 12. "A long reflection was necessary, first on the name to choose, then on the definition of the heritage value, then on the management plan" , says Hervé Baro, first vice-president of the Aude departmental council and president of the World Heritage Mission Association (AMPM).

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