QUERIBUS,CHATEAU CATHARE

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They called them the "Five Sons of Carcassonne": Aguilar, Termes, Puylaurens, Peyrepertuse, and Quéribus. The five fortresses formed an impressive first line of defense facing the Catalan-Aragonese border. Perched on a rocky limestone outcropping, Quéribus is named the "Citadel of Dizziness". The walls blend seamlessly with the mountain's rocky crest. Most of the structure was built in the 13th century. After Montségur fell, the Quéribus castle became the last stronghold of Cathar resistance in 1255. A staircase, sometimes made of cut stone and other times carved into the rock, leads to the fortress entrance on the Northwest side. The entrance is composed of three successive enclosures, arranged in tiers and dominated by an imposing keep. The advent of early firearms in the early 15th century led to the replacement of archers with gunners. The Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 marked the end of strategic advantages.