Rabat-The-Three-Lords

Municipality of Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs Altitude: 548 m Location: in Sabarthès between Bédeilhac, Surba and Saurat, Number of inhabitants: 366 Distances: Tarascon-sur-Ariège 6 km A small Pyrenean village, Rabat les Trois Seigneurs is located near the peak or massif that bears his name. Rabat associated the name of the peak of the Three Lords with its name to avoid postal confusion with the Moroccan city. This summit which dominates the upper valley of Rabat has three bumps, which explains its name. Rabat was the center of a great seigniory of the Middle Ages, that of the Rabat, then Foix-Rabat. Its lords originated from a vast family extending as far as Toulouse and Carcassonne, those of the Amelii. A castle was therefore built and the village of Rabat was grouped at the foot. This castle is now destroyed, but there are some ruins of another located on the crest of Roche Ronde and which was a fortress named Miramont. It was razed shortly after the capture of Montségur, because it had been used to house some Cathars and it was feared that it would become a new refuge for them. dry stone and enclosures: they have been roamed by herds for millennia. Around Rabat, many entrances to iron mines are known and some were exploited until the 14th century. They fed the Tarascon blast furnaces by cable. The hamlet of Carniès housed a large iron forge which operated from the 18th to the XNUMXth century. Opening times of the town hall: Tuesday to Friday: XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX p.m.