In Aude and Ariège, eight citadels candidates for UNESCO World Heritage

The general public adorns them with the pretty name of “citadels of vertigo”. In the future, he will have to get used to storing the fortifications of Carcassonne and the castles of Lastours, terms, Aguilar, Peyrepertase, Quéribus, Puilaurens and Montségur under the term of “Royal Fortresses of Languedoc” -Denomination adopted for the candidacy of their UNESCO heritage classification, carried by Aude and Ariège.

Officially, it is the “Fortresses system of the Sénéchaussée de Carcassonne (XIII^e-XIV^e centuries) “composed of eight monuments divided between the two departments, which France wishes to defend, in 2026. But before the experts of the International Heritage Committee chose to retain, or not, this Kyrielle of fortified sites built by Saint-Louis on the border south of its domains at the end of the crusade against the Albigensians and in order to keep the border with the crown of Aragon, a year and a half of work opens before Aude, Ariège and their inhabitants. “” We have already worked twelve years on this candidacy, and will spend the 18 months in front of us building a plan likely to convince ”, said the president of the Aude department, Hélène Sandragné, during a short visit to Paris on February 25.

The networking of Carcassonne and these castles illustrating an example of singular military architecture, should, hopes the territory, lead to a “Tourism based on nature and authenticity”.

Until then, the fortified city of Carcassonne won the implementation, with 2 million visitors per year. This makes medieval alleys sometimes impassable in summer, but does not necessarily guarantee a postponement of tourists to other citadels. Only the most valiant or sporty of them take the road to Quéribus or Aguilar, passing through the small villages that border them. “It is not a question of aiming for mass tourism”, explains Didier Aldebert, president of the Aude tourism development agency, but rather a “Quest for balance” Between the largest opening to visitors and maintaining the almost wild character of this corner of the earth.

In the coming year, the two departments await the visit of UNESCO experts. In front of them, they should present their management plan – future signage, means put on the table to maintain and keep the sites, etc. “We are not starting from scratch, since the center of national monuments manages the ramparts of Carcassonne and that we have maintained the castles for decades”, tempers Hélène Sandragné.

While trying to seduce international experts, Aude and Ariège will organize public meetings towards residents, before launching a large national communication campaign. A recent investigation by the tourist office has shown that Audois did not want to be disrupted by a possible classification, and not only because they fear the passage of tourist coaches. “Breeding, vines and agricultural land are very present in the region, and some are afraid of finding themselves under a bell because of UNESCO’s requirements”, continues the president. It remains a year and a half to convince them that a registration on the prestigious World Heritage list will be a plus for them and for this border region. In addition to the gaze of the world on a bad heritage, it will allow better telling the great story of these strong places built in the XII^e and 13^e centuries to assert the authority of the Kingdom of France. Not to mention the dizzying and splendid landscapes in which they were raised.