The Prades fort

In the middle of the meadows that gave it its name, is the village of Prades.

Like its neighbor Montaillou, its past was strongly marked by Catharism. A magnificently restored medieval well, the fortified enclosure of the "Fort" as well as the church of St-Pierre and its 17th century Virgin and Child, in gilded wood, justify a good stopover.
The count of the lands of the Count of Foix mentions the Fort de Prades for the first time in 1272. The most famous lordess of Prades was Marguerite d'Angoulême, sister of François 1er, queen of Navarre and Countess of Foix. At the beginning of the 16th century, she rebuilt the Fort de Prades, since then it bears the name of Château de la Reine Marguerite.
It was a simple fortified enclosure, the most remarkable vestiges of which are the fortified gate located on the eastern part of the rampart as well as old bread ovens, the only traces of the houses which were attached to it.
The interior of the fort, still occupied by houses, forms a residential area of the current village.

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