Cucugnan
Cucugnan castle is the ancient supposedly tenth century
predecessor of Queribus castle
just across the valley. However, as Queribus seems to have been
inhabited since Roman times, this claim seems as unlikely as the one that the castle is thirteenth or fourteenth century.
The place is first mentioned in 951 when it was given by Count Arnaud of Carcassonne (d.957) to Lagrasse abbey,
while the castle was not mentioned until 1140. In the first half
of the thirteenth century Peter and Berenger Cucugnan opposed the
advance of the Crusaders and helped with the defence of Peyrepertuse until their surrender to Louis IX (d.1270) in 1241. The ruins of Cucugnan
fortress stand above the windmill, which itself dates
back to before 1692. West of the castle at La Vignasse Roman
tiles have been uncovered. Unfortunately the 'Romanesque' church
beneath the castle is an 1860s rebuild.
Description
The castle occupies an E-W running ridge, with the Omer windmill
occupying the SW portion of the site. This appears to have been
an outer ward. The main fortress consisted of a polygonal ward
about 90'
E-W by 50' N-S. The main remains are to the west and consist of
later rectangular buildings, one of which contained a cistern.
The
curtain wall to the S&E revets the rock on which the castle stands
and there is a mostly internal round tower at the southernmost point.
Such a design seems most closely mirrored by the revetting of
rocks as found at the early castles of Fenouillet, Queribus and Termes. A church once stood upon the summit.
Why not join me here and at other French
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry
