Bugarach (French pronunciation: [byɡaʁaʃ] ⓘ; Occitan: Bugarag[3]) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France, around 35 km south of Carcassonne.

The location is mentioned for the first time as Villa Burgaragio in 889 AD;[4] it derives from the name "Bugari" of the Bulgarian Bogomilis in medieval France.

Later in the 20th century it became popular with New Age followers who believed the "upside down mountain" had mystical powers, spreading to the belief that the village would be spared in the forecast 2012 apocalypse.

[7][8][9] Cult followers believed aliens resided inside the mountain and would spare any humans that decide to leave the planet with them in the coming apocalypse.

[10][11][12][13][14] In 2011, the number of visitors doubled to over 20,000 and France's cult watchdog, Miviludes, placed the village under scrutiny due to concern over possible mass suicides.