Queribus is one of the “Five Sons of Carcassonne”, along with Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Termes and Puilaurens: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish, until the border was moved in 1659.
These fortified outposts guarded the volatile border between Spain and France. With the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees between the two countries in 1642, the border was moved south, following the peaks of the Pyrenees. This effectively made these fortifications obsolescent overnight.
The fortress of Puilaurens, a real master piece of medieval military architecture, towers at the doorsteps of Fenouillèdes. It is perched on a rocky peak, at 697m high; it dominates Lapradelle village and the Boulzane valley.
The first traces of the Puilaurens castle were found in the middle of the 10th century, but the main fortification still visible today was built between the 12th and the 13th centuries: walls, barbicans and machicoulis, towers, residential buildings, cisterns, etc. point out the essential defenseive role played by Puilaurens on the frontier between France and the Kingdom of Aragon until the 17th century. With Peyrepertuse, Quéribus, Aguilar and Termes, Puilarens protected the frontier. These five fortresses are also called the Five Sons of Carcassonne because of their strategic position. In 1659, Puilarens lost its military interest with the signing of the Treaty of the
Pyrenees and the royal fortress was gradually abandoned. A rocky path converted to a botanic path leads to the first walls of the castle. Signs posted on the path, as well as the cultural markers given at the reception will help
you to better understand this military architecture. In terms of architecture, this castle is the best preserved
citadel in Aude. There is also a legend about it, the one of its “Dame blanche”… (via Best of Aude catalog)