Self Catering Gite Accommodation - Visiting Lastours

Lastours is a *must visit* from the Gite, the Orbiel Vally provides a beautiful setting for the 4 castles.

The four castles of Lastours (Cabaret, Tour Regine, Surdespine, Querthineux), perfectly show the evolution of the military architecture between the 12th and the 16th centuries.

As protector of the Cabardès region since the early Middle-Ages, this impressive architectural set gained all its importance during the crusade against the Albigensian heretics.

Dominating the Orbiel valley, Lastours' four castles ensured, for a long time, complete control over the access to the mining richness of the Montagne Noire (Black Mountain).

A former textile factory, now completely restored, located in the heart of the village is the ticket office, this is the starting point for the visit and displays a permanent photographic exhibition on the villages of Cabardès.
It will soon house a display area dedicated to the mining evolution and the treatment of metals. These activities marked the history of the region from the Gallo-Roman time till today : the forges of Martys or the Salsignes gold mine. Using a foot path, it is also possible to discover the four castles from the Montfernier belvedere, which provides an incomparable panorama over the site.