Château De Quéribus Cucugnan
Château De Quéribus Cucugnan
4.5
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
In the South of France, in the county of Aude, stands Quéribus, the last bastion of Cathar resistance, and Cucugnan, the village made famous by the tale of “The Sermon of the Curé of Cucugnan”, which was immortalized by Alphonse Daudet "Les lettres de mon moulin". The sight of Queribus Castle perched upon its crag, dominating the valleys below vividly evokes the world of the Middle Age, and the eleventh to fourteenth centuries when it held sway. Its high tower, like an eagle’s nest, offers a panoramic view over the plains of the Roussillon.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
905 reviews
Excellent
589
Very good
267
Average
40
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Meredith L
4 contributions
July 2021
We visited Queribus and Peyrepertuse on the same day with our two young children (just turning 4 and 8 years old). Both chateaux were spectacular, and the day was the highlight of our trip. Queribus was easier to access--the path is steep and was in full sun when we were there, but it is smooth and fairly short. There was an incredibly intense wind tunnel effect as we passed through the front door, which nearly blew our shirts off but really added to the fun! Once through the door, the wind was still present but not too strong. The chateau is fairly compact and quicker to visit compared to Peyrepertuse, but there are still a lot of sections/rooms to explore. The views were amazing.
Like Peyrepertuse, there is a sizable parking lot with toilet facilities near the chateau.
Like Peyrepertuse, there is a sizable parking lot with toilet facilities near the chateau.
Written 28 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sknibb
London, UK308 contributions
Sept 2022 • Friends
stunning view. long narrow drive up mountain. from car park is 15 minutes walk up well maintained path, pay 4.50E. steep walk into ruin requires fair health and mobility on irregular steps. easily overlooked gravel trail runs up exterior base to left of stone entry steps, at base, which leads to great views of exterior. see this in conjunction with on same day the near by drive much larger catherist fort.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miles M
Dunsford, UK158 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
We visited this and Château de Peyrepertuse in the same day. I think we preferred Queribus.
It really is dramatic, and gets even more so as you approach. The walk up is relatively easy, and the site itself is not huge. It is amazing to think what the builders did given the lack of anything other than human endeavour.
When all the lights out, come out with rustic toilets. Definitely worth getting there early, before the heat and crowds buildup.
It really is dramatic, and gets even more so as you approach. The walk up is relatively easy, and the site itself is not huge. It is amazing to think what the builders did given the lack of anything other than human endeavour.
When all the lights out, come out with rustic toilets. Definitely worth getting there early, before the heat and crowds buildup.
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Libra_K1960
Farnham, UK271 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Definitely worth the walk. We went twice in the week we were staying in the area - once with the tour group, and later on when we had a free day so that we could explore the castle for longer. The walk from the village of Cucugnan is quite hard - we went up the steep, more direct route, and came down by the longer more gentle track. For the steep route you would be advised to have proper walking shoes or boots, as there were some areas of loose stones which would be hard to negotiate in ordinary shoes. The castle's situation is breathtaking. We also enjoyed watching the film which you can see in the village.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aldernodules
Coleraine, UK100 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
The historic castle is perched on top of a mountain top and looks almost unbelievable from the road along the valley (D117). Indeed, one wonders how to get to it, but there is an adequate steep and windy road that gets you to a car park and entrance building within a few minutes walk from it. As with many castles in France, the surfaces and steps are somewhat uneven, but safe if you take care. It's a medium sized castle, not very big, but the views around the valleys and mountains are amazing. There is an interesting winding basement to the tower, but use your phone torch, as it is dark and uneven. A great visit for castle lovers.
Written 28 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandiablonde
Edgewood, NM684 contributions
Oct 2022
Situated in the middle of nowhere in the Pyrenees with nothing around but trees and mountains, this is a wonderful ruin to visit. The climb up is a little steep but it is worth it and the best part was that in October, we had the place all to ourselves. The guide could use a little work but it is still worth seeing. Plenty of parking. Great views.
Written 18 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
swedishivy2013
Montpelier, VT1,524 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
High in the wilds of the eastern Pyrenees are at least four ruined fortresses that were among the last strongholds of the Cathars in the Middle Ages. Queribus happened to be the easiest for us to reach but I would encourage anyone interested in this fascinating aspect of cultural and religious history to visit the others as well. The region is accessible by highway to Perpignan and then a secondary road, or (as we did) by slow, sinuous one-lane roads through the mountains. The short hike to the hilltop ruins of Queribus (essentially an archeological site) is steep and can be v windy (the gentleman at the entrance described it as "a whirlwind at the first doorway -- but not dangerous") and challenging if you are anxious about heights -- but v worth the climb. There is much that is beautiful and interesting and awe-inspiring to see, and it makes the history so real and alive. For me a high point was running my hand over a stone, smoothed by age, weather, other hands -- thinking of the brave people and ordinary people and good people who had lived their daily live and died there some 800 years before -- and realizing that surely someone, child or parent or elder, in that time had also run her or his hand over that same stone, so many centuries ago, and perhaps she or he had thought for an instant abt those who might come later, just as I was thinking abt those who had come before. And so, for an instant, our hands joined across the harsh and windy centuries of stone and peace.
Written 21 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TassieTravellers99
Launceston, Australia3,407 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
The chateau is one of the more accessible and most popular fortresses on the Cathar route. It has a prominent position with a severe climb to get from the car park to the citadel, but the path was well tended.
It is a compact castle with a main building housing the castle owners' accommodation with its impressive vaulted ceiling. There was a panoramic platform from where we had excellent 360 degree views including a great view across to Peyrepertuse and the valley towards the towns of Maury and St Paul-de-Fenouillet.
It is a compact castle with a main building housing the castle owners' accommodation with its impressive vaulted ceiling. There was a panoramic platform from where we had excellent 360 degree views including a great view across to Peyrepertuse and the valley towards the towns of Maury and St Paul-de-Fenouillet.
Written 7 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
512Dick
Saint Johnsbury, VT296 contributions
Sept 2019
Although it is somewhat difficult to get to the top of this structure, it is well-worth the effort. The winds we encountered on the way up were the strongest I have ever experienced. There is a good reason why they have ropes along the stairs near the top. They were needed on the way up.
The view from the top of the tower is so impressive. If you have a chance to visit here, do it. It is so worthwhile. I had a hard time trying to imagine how anyone could possibly built a structure like this in this location so long ago. It is truly incredible.
The view from the top of the tower is so impressive. If you have a chance to visit here, do it. It is so worthwhile. I had a hard time trying to imagine how anyone could possibly built a structure like this in this location so long ago. It is truly incredible.
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlatToppedHill
Ramsbottom, UK128 contributions
July 2019 • Family
To start with I wasn’t convinced that we were going to survive the drive up to the carpark. Not because of the super narrow, super steep winding road with a sheer drop on one side, but because of the noise my boyfriend made as I gave our hired Skoda full throttle to get it up the hill. Part squeak, part squeal. He did relax a bit when we got to the entrance to the Château but it was touch and go for a while.
I paid for our entrance in the small gift shop. The nice lady told me that it was very windy at the top and that I should hold on to my ... ‘hat?’ I said (in French). No no, she said, ‘hold on to your children’. My children are 11, 9 and 5 and not really built to be blown away so I had a bit of a laugh at this, which came back to haunt me shortly afterwards.
We started the steep walk up the gravel path to the lowest part of the castle. The views were amazing, all the way to the Pic du Canigou one way, and the Med the other, with helpful boards pointing out what we were looking at. It was blowy though, and a passing couple advised my eldest to take off and hold on to his hat.
As we got higher there was what can only be described as a full on wind tunnel effect. Wearing a skirt was a bad idea and the only thing that saved my blushes was the fact we were heading to the seaside afterwards meaning I was wearing (big!) bikini pants underneath. The children had trouble staying upright. Heck I had trouble staying upright and I’m a 10 stone lump. It was knock you off your feet windy, the strongest I’ve ever felt.
Still we powered up and were rewarded with the most amazing views. Shielded from the wind the sun and blue sky combined to give us the most beautiful experience. We didn’t really know what should have been in any of the ‘rooms’ but it didn’t matter, it was all about the exploring and the views.
I’m not sure that Queribus would be quite as ‘raw’ a visitor experience in our home UK. There were sections where handrails or guide ropes or staff would have been an advantage but where we were, obviously, just left to get on with it. This is fine if you know what you’re getting, but may be a shock to the system for some. It’s not quite the National Trust.
As castles go though, this was utterly spectacular. Worth the journey, worth the climb, worth flashing my pants to all other visitors there at the same time. Go, you won’t regret it.
I paid for our entrance in the small gift shop. The nice lady told me that it was very windy at the top and that I should hold on to my ... ‘hat?’ I said (in French). No no, she said, ‘hold on to your children’. My children are 11, 9 and 5 and not really built to be blown away so I had a bit of a laugh at this, which came back to haunt me shortly afterwards.
We started the steep walk up the gravel path to the lowest part of the castle. The views were amazing, all the way to the Pic du Canigou one way, and the Med the other, with helpful boards pointing out what we were looking at. It was blowy though, and a passing couple advised my eldest to take off and hold on to his hat.
As we got higher there was what can only be described as a full on wind tunnel effect. Wearing a skirt was a bad idea and the only thing that saved my blushes was the fact we were heading to the seaside afterwards meaning I was wearing (big!) bikini pants underneath. The children had trouble staying upright. Heck I had trouble staying upright and I’m a 10 stone lump. It was knock you off your feet windy, the strongest I’ve ever felt.
Still we powered up and were rewarded with the most amazing views. Shielded from the wind the sun and blue sky combined to give us the most beautiful experience. We didn’t really know what should have been in any of the ‘rooms’ but it didn’t matter, it was all about the exploring and the views.
I’m not sure that Queribus would be quite as ‘raw’ a visitor experience in our home UK. There were sections where handrails or guide ropes or staff would have been an advantage but where we were, obviously, just left to get on with it. This is fine if you know what you’re getting, but may be a shock to the system for some. It’s not quite the National Trust.
As castles go though, this was utterly spectacular. Worth the journey, worth the climb, worth flashing my pants to all other visitors there at the same time. Go, you won’t regret it.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour, combien de temps compter pour la montée au château, la visite et la descente avec une enfant de 4 ans bon marcheur ? Merci
Written 25 October 2021
Montée facile environs 15 à 20 mn et une heure trente de visite au moins en fonction de votre curiosité . Descente 10 mn.
Written 27 October 2021
La visite est-elle possible avec un petit chien? Et par ailleurs, est-ce accessible pour les personnes souffrant de vertige? Merci
Written 3 August 2020
Bonjour
Techniquement la visite est possible avec un petit chien. Les animaux sont acceptés sur le site en laisse.
Moi-même, je suis sujet au vertige, je ne l'ai pas ressenti. Cependant, je vous recommande la visite du site du Château de Peyrepertuse, pas très loin de queribus mais autrement plus majestueux. Le site de ce château est somptueux.
Written 4 August 2020
Supongo que sí, al menos que esté nevado. No dejes de visitar el pueblo de Cucugnan: el molino, alguna de sus bodegas... También tiene dos restaurantes recomendados en la guia Michelín. Y las aceitunas luquetas con forma de media luna...Y cerveza artesana.
Written 17 September 2018
ciao, fra poco partiamo per le vacanze e volevamo passare dal castello di queribus.
volevo chiederti qual è il prezzo di ingresso al castello e cosa comprende
grazie
Written 13 June 2018
Ciao. L'ingresso costerebbe 7 euro ad adulto, ma a noi è costato solo 6 euro a testa, perchè avevamo pre-acquistato il "Passeport des sites du Pays cathare". Il costo di questo tesserino è stato di 4 euro, Se ne compera solo uno, vale per tutto il gruppo. Si acquista alle biglietterie di un posto cataro, noi lo abbiamo fatto all'abbazia di saint Froide. . Ogni volta che lo si presenta alle biglietterie, ti scontano l'ingresso e ti mettono un timbro sul passaporto di carta. Dopo qualche timbro, partecipi anche ad un concorso, se glielo rispedisci. Il costo lo ammortizzi presto, infatti basta visitare almeno due o tre posti Catari, e sono ben 23! . Ad esempio, noi abbiamo visitato Chateau d'Aguilar (con 3 euro ad adulto anzichè 4), Chateau e bastioni de Carcassonne (7 euro anzichè 9 ad adulto), Abbazia di Saint Froide (10,5 euro anzichè 11,5 ad adulto), Chateau de Montsegur (5,5 euro anziche 6,5 euro ad adulto), Chateau de Peyrepertuse (a 6 euro anzichè 7 a persona). Se sommi il tutto, è un bel risparmio. Tutti i castelli sono diroccati, ovviamente, ma ognuno è diverso. Le città e le Abbazie sono, invece, arredate e corredate da musei.
Written 13 June 2018
il est vrai que le parking est trop éloigné de la grille d'entrée du château et il n'y a même pas d'escalier roulant pour y accéder !!
Written 10 November 2015
A mon sens, Queribus est le chateau cathare le plus accessible.
Le chemin d'accès est abordable et ne necessite pas une condition physique particulière . Le dénivelé est très moyen et progressif.Il est recommandé pour les non marcheurs de faire
des pauses regulières
Written 11 November 2015
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