danshachar

Peyrepertuse - "Pierced rock"

Peyrepertuse. "Pierced rock". The name perfectly describes the fortress which is inserted into the rock. The features of the fortress stretch along a ...
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Peyrepertuse. "Pierced rock". The name perfectly describes the fortress which is inserted into the rock. The features of the fortress stretch along a limestone spur on the Corbières massif and its boundary walls run along the crest of an entire hill as a rocky spur links its two structures. Next to the keep is a chapel dated to 1115 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Cathar village was probably lying on a plateau which slopes to the north as evidenced by surviving ruins. At this stage the site consisted of this fortified village. During the Crusade against the Cathars, Peyrepertuse surrendered without fighting. In 1240 the castle passed to the Crown of France and the Chapel of the Virgin was restored.
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