Port-la-Nouvelle, Aude Mise à jour: jeudi 11 mars 2010 16:00 En partie nuageux 3 ° C Maxima: 4 ° C Minima: -1 ° C Vent:50 kmh Humidité:60% vendredi 7 °/2 ° samedi 8 °/2 ° Dimanche 9 °/4 ° lundi 11 °/4 ° Météo MSN Données fournies par Foreca

            

Le Pic de Bugarach, Photo Maggie Comley    

Bugarach

Cascastel des Corbières is situated in the South of France within the Corbières mountains.

The Pic de Bugarach at 1230m is the highest peak in this mountainous area.  

The Corbières have been formed from very ancient rocks which were completely eroded and covered by the sea.

At the time of the géological movements which formed the Pyrenees, the whole of the Corbieres area was raised up and subsequently broken down and eroded, and as a result form a richly varied chaos of crests, plateau,gorges,streams and valeys.  

The limestone deposits, which were created when the area was covered by water, contain metallic ores which were exploited by people coming from Iberia (modern Spain), by the Celts, and by the Romans. Exploitation continued during the Medieval period and most partcularly in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and even in the 20^th century up to 1950.

Gypsum is also to be found in the area, partucularly at Portel des Corbières, and this was being extracted until 1982 for the production if plaster. Marble is another stone found locally and in the 18^th century, Joseph Gaspard Pailhoux, the Seigneur of Cascastel, exploited this rock at " La Ginière".

The Iberians and the celts have left traces of their exploitation of metals in the form of ash cones and of coins but also in the names given to different places and features in the landscape. For example Corbières comes from the Celtic word "Corb" meaning rock.

The river Orbieu flows North East trough the Corbières. The name is a reminder of the gold that in the past could be found in its waters. The river Berre flows in a South Easterly direction. Its source is in Quintillan at the base of the Plateau of La Camp. The water flowing from the source is a constant 24°. The river flows through Cascastel, Villeneuve, Durban and Portel Corbières, and after a short 53kms disperses into the Etang or lagoon of Bages-Sigean. 

Photos Henri Coulondou, The Etang de Bages-Sigean, Port-Mahon et la Berre sous le pont à Ripaud

Inland the Corbières Mountains have deep valleys and gorges like the Gorges de Galamus or are open like the Val de Dagne.

There are ridges, crests and cliffs where eagles nest.

 Here can be found the "Cathar" Castles, large Monastic Abbeys and the "Citadels" of the kings of France all evoquing a vibrant Medieval period.

There are rich varieties of plants, animals and birds and archeological sites which are evidence that humans have lived since prehistoric periods.

Some of these sites indicate simple living conditions whilst others siggest a more grandiose existence.

Cascastel is situated at the furthest limits of what was the territory governed over by the Roman City of Narbonne.

To the Nord West is Termenès, an area rich in minerals and to which Cascastel was the gateway.

To the South, after the Col d'Extrème, between Cascastel and Tuchan, were the territories of the Comtes de Cerdagne, then of Barcelona, and the Kings of Aragon.

The narow valley of the River Berre at Portel Corbières was controlled by a "palais" during the Roman period and in the medieval period by a "Castelle". Further upstream the river Berre at Glèon has a medieval bridge which was restaured after the the 1999 floods, similar to the one at Cascastel. Durban Corbières is the principal commune of the Canton, with the old village built on the right bank of the river and climbing the hill to an impressive Château, now in ruins. Despite its impressive and dominating position, it was a "Seigneurie Agricole", held by Iberinus, orignally from Spain.

Six kilometers on from Durban is the site of Cascastel with its imposing tower and voulted roomssituated at the side of the Berre.

The site seems to have played the role of keeper of the valley.

Collection Antoine Villa 

The village if notable both for its historic and archaelogical inheritance and also for the illustrious family who occuped the Château in the 18^th and 19^th century.

Important renovation and repair work has been carried out since the flood of 1999, which has secured the Château from further deterioration and strengthened the Church. In 2006 a study was undertaken of the 18^th century plaster moulding. It is hoped that all this work will form the basis of the decisions needed to develop the site to welcome visitors and for the inhabitants of cascastel to be proud of their inheritance.

"Le Pays Cathare" 

Pays Cathare, données économiques

A charter of Quality and a recognised symbol

The programme of development of the " Pays Cathare" is supported by the European Community    

The programme of development local "Pays Cathare" was adopted by the "Conseil Général" in  1989, then recotnised by the European Union in 1992,

 The rich hitory of this area forms the basis for promoting economic development by publicity aimed at attracting visitors. 

Sites have benefited from grants to protect and safeguard them, and the owners of many of these sites, often an "Association",

 in return have made them available to help promote the local economy.

The symbol "Pays Cathare" aims at increasing the value of products and services in the Department of the Aude.

Projet de sauvegarde et d'exploitation du Château de Cascastel

Le site de Cascastel possède une tour médièvale exceptionnelle,

 mais ce qui en fait la particularité c'est la demeure seigneuriale du 18^ième siècle, la personnalité de ceux qui l'ont créée et habitée.

Au cours des pages du projet de sauvegarde évoqué sur ce site, on peut se faire une idée de la noblesse des lieux

et du type d'hébergement que l'on peut y développer.

Si vous souhaitez devenir acteur de la réalisation d'un lieu d'accueil de qualité  Contactus 

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