Château de Quéribus

It has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1907.

[1] Queribus is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", along with Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Termes and Puilaurens: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish, until the border was moved in 1659.

Quéribus was defended by Chabert de Barbaira, who surrendered the castle without a fight in unclear circumstances.

He may have been deceived by or have made a deal with his former friend Olivier de Termes.

[2] The fate of the Cathar occupiers of the castle is unknown, but they possibly slipped away, probably to Aragon or Piedmont - both regions where Cathar beliefs were still common, and where the Occitan language was spoken.