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Origin and history

Roquefort Castrum is a castle in ruins, surrounded by a castral village, located in the Sorèze valley, in the municipality of Sorèze (Tarn). Called Castellum Rocafort super fluvium Sor from 1035, it formally depends on Toulouse County, but its local lords are vassals of the Trencavel, Viscounts of Albi and Béziers. Its peak is at the end of the 12th century, when it plays a strategic role in the region.

After the crusade of the Albigeois (early 13th century), the castrum, geographically isolated, became a refuge for heretics and a base of flight to Italy. It is probably abandoned in the late 14th century. The site, private, is not accessible to the public but has been the subject of archaeological excavations conducted by Pierre Clément (owner) and the Hades office between 2005 and 2018, under the direction of Ugo Cafiero. These campaigns helped to study its history and organization.

Ranked a historic monument in 2010, the Roquefort Castrum illustrates medieval castral architecture and its connection to Cathar history. Archaeological research highlighted its role as a local seigneury and its gradual decline after the 14th century. Publications, such as those of Michel Barrère or Jacques Albarel, document its importance in the Montagne Noire.

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