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Château de Villerouge-Termenès

The Château de Villerouge-Termenès is a ruined castle situated in the Corbières Massif. The fortress dates from the 12th century and was modified in the 14th...
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The Château de Villerouge-Termenès is a ruined castle situated in the Corbières Massif. The fortress dates from the 12th century and was modified in the 14th century. Villerouge was the centre of a vast domain, because the Archbishop of Narbonne, to whom it belonged, was the lord of many villages in the region and he collected tithes, taxes or duties there. To collect these revenues and to control his vassals, the archbishop had a baillif and Villerouge was in the centre of the bailiwick.

The castle played an important role during the Albigensian Crusade. The last Cathar perfect, Guillaume Bélibaste, was burnt alive there on 24 August 1321. He was betrayed by a spy in the service of the Inquisition and was taken to Villerouge Termenes, where he was interrogated before being burnt at the stake.
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