Some more fortified and hilltop villages in southwest France.

Over the last few weeks we have been driving around South West France, sight seeing with our visitors from Canada and the UK. We have visited and driven past quite a few Bastides (fortified villages) castles and towns perched on hillsides.

This castle on the road to Cucugnan another beautiful hilltop village,  Chateau Queribus a fortified Cathar Castle.

The Carthars were a breakaway group from the Church of Rome during the 12th. and 13th centuries

The church were non to pleased with this and persecuted the Carthars for the best part of 150 years. Queribus was the last stronghold and fell to the Popes army in 1244.

The windmill at Cucugnan.

Minerve another Cartheir stronghold, in the department of the Herault. The Cartars held out against Simon de Montfort and his crusaders for 5 months in 1210 before jumping into a fire, coveniently provided for them by the crusaders.

The town of Cordes sur Ciel in the department of the Tarn.

Two views of Rocamador in the department of the Lot. Perhaps the most stunning of all the hillside villages.

This castle we caught site of on the road from Rocamador to Sarlet, I have no idea what it's called