Hautpoul

According to the legend, Hautpoul was founded in 413 A.D. by a visigoth king. The fortress, hanging on a mountain top, guards the entrance to the Montagne Noire a few kilometers south of Mazamet. The village was not spared during the last (Albigensian) crusade. The Cathar redoubt was all but levelled by the unstoppable Simon de Montfort in 1212.

Now consisting of nothing more than one winding street and the sparse vestiges of the castle, Hautpoul is still a popular spot for excursions, in part because of the strong Cathar connection. Anyway, Hautpoul has a breathtaking setting, with views over the seemingly endless forested hills. The road from Albi/Mazamet to Carcassonne gives a good overview of the hamlet, perched on the opposite hillside. There's even a small car park (dangerously located near a bend), which offers a telescope.