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Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Martin de Toques, perched on a rocky spur near Bizanet (Aude), was built between the 12th and 14th centuries to control the axes between Narbonne and the Corbières. Its crenellated walls, with d'archères, and its Romanesque chapel – mentioned since 1360 but probably earlier – illustrate its dual military and religious role. The enclosure embraces the natural contours of the rock, with two circular towers dated from the end of the 12th century and a late polygonal tower (late 13th), equipped with caliper archeries.

First possession of the Viscounts of Narbonne (attested as early as 978), the site housed a rectorium dependent on the diocese. A certain Guilrelmus Hibrini pays tribute to it around 1020 for the family of Durban, close to the Narbonnais. After a gradual abandonment from the 17th century, private restorations since the 1990s saved some of the structures, such as the northeast walls or the courtyard. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1926, it remains a symbol of the Cathar fortifications.

Today in partial ruins, the castle preserves traces of its Cistercian past: the chapel, with arches reminiscent of monastic architecture, and the remains of Canet Baylie. Although private property, its silhouette still dominates the landscape, 2.4 km from Fontfroide Abbey. The courtyards and the upper side wall of the chapel, in small apparatus, bear witness to medieval defensive techniques adapted to the steep terrain.

The site embodies the military strategy of the Narbonne Viscounts, combining road surveillance and alliance with local families such as Durban. Its decline coincides with the end of cathar conflicts and the centralization of royal power, relegating these strong places to a secondary role. Recent restorations aim to preserve this heritage, while respecting its private character and its integration into the Corbières landscape.

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