Château D'Usson (Charente-Maritime)
The Château d'Usson (en Occitan: ''Castèl de So'') is one of the so-called Cathar castles in what is now southwestern France. It is located in the ''Communes of France, commune'' of Rouze, in the Ariège (department), Ariège ''Departments of France, département''. It is sited upstream from Axat, along the Aude (river), Aude river gorge, carved out of the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is situated at an altitude of and dominates the valley of the Aude. The Puilaurens Castle, Château de Puilaurens is away, Château de Puivert and Château de Quéribus . History The castle dates from the 11th century (perhaps earlier) and during the Cathar period marked the eastern boundary of the territories of the Counts of Foix. In the 12th century, this was the capital of the Donézan region. Before the ''défilé'' was cut through the mountains to link Quillan to Axat, this was an inaccessible outpost providing succour for faidits and other persecuted Cathars. The Cathar bishop of Toulouse ...
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