The mechanical and fracture properties of refractory ceramics are determined by means of an inverse identification procedure between experimental data and numerical simulations. An experimental set-up is proposed to perform Wedge Splitting Tests (WST) at elevated temperature with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to assess the crack propagation. The ceramic Young's Modulus, fracture energy and strength are determined by indirect confrontation to Finite Element simulations of crack propagation in WST specimens employing Cohesive Zone Modeling (CZM). The variations of the force and crack length are used to set an inverse problem for estimating the material parameters for various temperatures. The method, illustrated through the analysis of an industrial refractory ceramic from 25 • C to 1200 • C, combines experimental and numerical approaches to understand and optimize the fracture behaviour of refractories in application.Refractory ceramics are widely employed in parts that are used in high temperature environments such as, e.g., glass furnaces, steel ladles or blast furnaces. These parts are subjected to severe thermal gradients that may provoke the initiation and propagation of cracks. The presence of such cracks is critical since they may weaken the whole structure and locally enhance the corrosion effects, leading to a lifetime reduction of the furnaces.A major challenge thus consists in predicting the initiation and propagation of such cracks. To this end, modeling the temperature distribution within the part as well as providing realistic description of failure can help in the definition of a robust design. These models require some essential parameters such as the refractory fracture properties (critical energy release rate and strength) and also their variations from room temperature to really high temperature (up to 1500 • C).