Château de Villerouge-Termenès

About fifty miles south-east of Carcassonne, is the Villerouge-Termenès High Corbières Mediterranean gateway. Located in the heart of the village, the large mass of the castle commands respect. The first historical data about the date from the early twelfth century. At that time and until the French Revolution, the powerful archbishops of Narbonne are the lords of the castle and the village. However, the castle of Villerouge-Termenès was repeatedly occupied and coveted. Indeed, in 1107, Pope Pascal II to confirm the Archbishop Richard in his possession Villerouge which is actually occupied since 1070 by Pierre de Peyrepertuse. The latter gave a dowry to his daughter at the time of her marriage to Pierre Olivier de Termes. It was not until 1110 that the family of terms agreed to surrender the castle to the Archbishop of Narbonne. However, other strains will, again, between the lords of the Terms and archbishops of Narbonne. In 1227, Pope Honorius III press his legate to grant the complaint of the archbishop against the usurpations of the head of the Crusade, Simon de Montfort, and his vassal Alain de Roucy, which had taken place of the old lords of Termes. The village is closely linked to the history of Catharism ending: in 1321, Guilhem Belibaste known Occitan Cathar perfect last will was burned alive. Guilhem Bélibaste had been initiated into Catharism to become perfect in Catalonia, where he was on the run. Only religion can transmit Perfect, his death meant the end of the Cathar religion. The castle was classified historical monument in 1976.