An unusual arrangement of three castle towers (Las Tours, The Towers) this fortification belonged to the Lords of Cabaret, who held in fief from the Trencavels.

In the thirteenth century there were three towers here, built on the same rocky outcrop.  They are called Cabaret (to the north), Quertinheux and Surdespine (to the south).  These are some of the few original Cathar castles left.

The Seigneurs of Cabaret received troubadours here, including Raymond de Miraval and Peire Vidal, who dedicated verses to the Cathar Ladies of the place. 

Lastours lies in the Aude departément just north of Carcassonne.

The towers stand on a hill crest above the village of Lastours, flanked by the River Grésilhou to the west and the River Orbiel to the east.

Lastours (Occitan: Las Tors) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

Lastours is located 12 km (7.5 mi) outside Carcassonne, in the valley of the River Orbiel. There are 4 small castles each built on a large 300m high rocky ridge. The castles were built to control the access to Montagne Noire and the Cabardes region.

During the Cathar Crusade this was one of the most ardent centres of resistance to the French Crusaders, In 1209 it was besieged unsuccessfully, by Simon de Montfort.  It was here a year later that a line of a hundred men appeared on foot, having snaked their way from Bram, their eyes torn out, their noses cropped and their lips cut off by the Holy Catholic soldiers of Christ. 

In March 1211, after the fall of Termes, Pierre-Roger de Cabaret, negotiated the surrender of the château, under diplomatic rather than military pressure.  In 1223 he recovered his property.  Once again Cabaret became the foremost centre of resistance against the French invaders.  The Cathar bishop of Carcassonne, Pierre Isarn, was given refuge here until 1226. 

After the Council of Toulouse in 1229 the Seigneurs of Cabaret were obliged to abandon their stronghold.  They regained it, briefly, when they accompanied their liege Lord, Tranceval, in his reconquest in 1240. 

Today , you will find four towers at Lastours.  The fourth, known as the Tour Régine, was built by the French around 1260. 

Google map showing Lastours

a Entry / Entrée

b Defensive wall / Dispositif de défense

c Curtain Wall / Courtine

d Court / Cour

e Entry to the main building / Entrée du cors de logis

f Cors de logis

g Keep / Donjon

h Cistern / Citerne

i Staircase / Ancien escalier

j Keep staircase / Escalier du donjon

k Tower / Tour

l Postern Gate / potern

1 Entrance / Entrée

2 Chicane

3 Cistern / Citerne

4 Tower / Tour

5 Staircase / Escalier

6 Curtain Wall / Courtine

1 Original Entrance / Entrée originelle

2 Present Entrance / Entrée actuelle

3 Curtain Walls / Courtines

4 Main Building / Logis

5 Cistern / Citerne

6 Tower / Tour

1Curtain Wall / Courtine

2 Tower / Tour

3 Staircase / Escalier

the Tour Régine was built by the French around 1260.