First mention of castrum vers 1035 (≈ 1035)
Called *Castellum Rocafort super fluvium Sor*.
fin XIIe siècle
Apex of the site
Apex of the site fin XIIe siècle (≈ 1295)
Under the influence of Trencavel.
XIIIe siècle
Cathar refuge
Cathar refuge XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Leak base to Italy.
fin XIVe siècle
Deposition of castrum
Deposition of castrum fin XIVe siècle (≈ 1495)
Departure of the local lords.
2010
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 2010 (≈ 2010)
Protection of archaeological remains.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Archaeological site and remains of elevations in place (Box F 262): inscription by decree of 17 September 2010
Key figures
Trencavel - Viscounts of Albi and Carcassonne
Powerful lords of the castrum.
Pierre Clément - Owner and archaeologist
Leads excavations in the 21st century.
Ugo Cafiero - Scientific Director of excavations
Responsible for campaigns 2015-2018.
Origin and history
The Castrum de Roquefort, mentioned in 1035 as Castellum Rocafort super fluvium Sor, is a medieval castle located in the valley of the Sorèze, on the municipality of Sorèze (Tarn). Formally owned by Toulouse County, it is actually under the influence of Viscounts Trencavel, lords of Albi and Carcassonne. Its peak is at the end of the 12th century, taking advantage of its strategic position between the territories of Toulouse and Carcassonne.
After the crusade of the Albigeois (early 13th century), the castrum, geographically isolated, became a refuge for the Cathar heretics and a base for the fugitives towards Italy. The site gradually declined and was probably abandoned at the end of the 14th century, with the departure of the local lords. Its history is documented by the inquisitorial records, revealing the population's strong adherence to heresy.
Archaeological excavations carried out in the 21st century (2005 to 2018) by Pierre Clément and the Hadès office, under the direction of Ugo Cafiero, allowed us to study its topography in three levels, typical of medieval castrums of Midi-Pyrénées. The site, registered as a historical monument in 2010, remains a private property not open to the public. It illustrates the seigneurial and religious organization of the Black Mountain during the Middle Ages.
The castrum is also related to the Roquefort family, whose influence culminates in the early 13th century. The remains, partially explored since the 1980s, offer a major archaeological potential to understand the political and religious dynamics of the region, especially during the Cathar repression. Written sources, such as the oaths of the Trencavel cartular, confirm its central role in feudal and religious conflicts of the time.
