Seat of Simon de Montfort 1210 (≈ 1210)
Redundancy due to lack of water during the crusade.
1228
Transfer under Royal Control
Transfer under Royal Control 1228 (≈ 1228)
Integrated into the border defences with Aragon.
Xe–XIIe siècles
Feudal origin
Feudal origin Xe–XIIe siècles (≈ 1250)
Seat of the seigneury of Termenès, linked to the Trencavel.
1258
Treaty of Corbeil
Treaty of Corbeil 1258 (≈ 1258)
Strengthens its role as a border fortress.
1654
Dismantling
Dismantling 1654 (≈ 1654)
Unused after the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
1989 et 2024
Historical monument rankings
Historical monument rankings 1989 et 2024 (≈ 2024)
Protection of ruins and archeo remains.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The ruins of the castle, in total, situated on parcel No. 183 in cadastre section A: classification by order of 25 September 1989; All the remains of the castle of Termes, in total, namely all the elements of the enclosure (the southern ramparts of the castral village) and of the castral village, in elevation or buried, including the land base, the soil and the basement of parcels n° 183, 184, 185, 186 and 194, appearing in the cadastre section A of the commune, at the place called "Le Château", 2 camin del Castel, as coloured in pink on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by decree of 4 December 2024
Key figures
Raymond de Termes - Lord of Terms
Protected the cathars in 1209.
Simon de Montfort - Cross Chief
Asiegea and took Termes in 1210.
Jean-Paul Cazes - Archaeologist
Directed recent excavations (medieval staircase).
Origin and history
The Castle of Termes, built between the 10th and 13th centuries, is an emblematic fortress of the Corbières massif in Aude. Built on a rocky spur surrounded by cliffs, it was only accessible by its southern flank, protected by two concentric enclosures. This strategic site gave its name to the region of Termenès and was the seat of a powerful seigneury, linked to the Viscounts of Carcassonne and the Trencavel.
In the 12th century, Termes became a refuge for cathars, under the impulse of Raymond de Termes, vassal of the Viscounts of Carcassonne. In 1210, during the Albige crusade, Simon de Montfort besieged the castle for several months. The surrender of the besieged, caused by a shortage of water despite abundant reserves of wine, was reported in the Song of the Albige Crusade. The site passed under royal control in 1228, then became part of the border defence network against Aragon after the treaty of Corbeil (1258).
The castle, dismantled in 1654 after the Treaty of the Pyrenees, preserves remains of the 11th–12th centuries (donjon, chapel with cruciform bay) and royal reconstructions of the 13th–14th centuries. The lower enclosure, better preserved, measures 125 × 70 meters and includes flanking structures. A medieval fortified village, displaced after 1228, remains partly in the form of ruins. The Termnet, a secondary work, leaves only tenuous traces.
Ranked a historic monument in 1989 and 2024, the site has been the subject of archaeological excavations since the 2000s. In 2007, the Grand Royal House was cleared, and in 2023 a medieval staircase leading to the Castral Church was discovered. The commune of Termes, in partnership with the Departmental Council of Aude, is developing a development programme including signage, research and consolidation, within the framework of the Country Cathar project.
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