Languedoc Roussillon Chateaux and Castles

The French region of the Languedoc Roussillon is based in the south of France and is on the Spanish border. This region therefore has an amazing historical and military background that can be seen through its fortified castles and well protected villages.

Amongst all the fortified towns and monastries one can find in this region, the most widly known forified town of the region is Carcassonne. Carcassonne is an old fortified Roman town that bears witness to 1 000 years of military history and 2,500 years of culture.

One can also find monuments like the Oppidum d'Enserune which is a fortified habitate (ancient Roman villa) from the 6th century B.C. until our era and still has traces of ancient civilisations; Lastours which is a fortress in the black mountain or even Puilaurens, a citadelle that is located 700 metres high.

The Languedoc Roussillon region is also known for its small towns that were perched on a mountain or a hill. They were disposed in a circle with the outer houses creating a well with no windows and only one small door as entrance to the village. These towns called "Circulades" (reference to the circular outline) are typical reminders of the social ways of the time as the richest people would live in the nicer houses at the centre of the village.