Cathar castles and history in the Languedoc and the Ariege

 

These are just some of the places you can visit to experience the way of the Cathars:-

Montsegur. The most famous of all the castles. It was here in 1244 that the burning of 225 Cathars created the legends that would last through to the 20th century. Close by you can visit the lake at Montbel and Chalabre.

Queribus. One of the most photographed of all the fortresses - this lies to the South East and is approx 46 km from the Holiday Cottage.

Peyrepertuse. Just a few kms from Queribus. This is a dry mountainous area with sharp ridges, long views to the sea, narrow roads and very little change over the years.

Puilaurens. Take the D117 from Queribus westwards towards Quillan. The road climbs into the hills and forests start to crowd around you. Here you will find Puilaurens.Follow the D117 west and you will eventually reach the Castle. Situated at 690m altitude it has tremendous views. Occupied since the 11th century by La famille de Fenouillet. In the 15th century it was active in guarding the area against the Spanish, but the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 rendered it obsolete. It was abandoned after the revolution. For July and August it is open from 9 am to 8 pm. Adults pay 3.5 euros and children ( age 6 to 12) 1.4 Euros. Groups ( 10 people or more) are 2.5 Euros. Web site www.lapradel-le-puilaurens.com.The local telephone number is 04 68 20 65 26.

 

Lastours. Just 12 km north of Carcassonne within the valley of the Orbiel lies the four fortresses of Lastours. In the foothills of the Montagne Noire this is well worth a visit.

Dramatic as these castles are the real history resides in the towns and villages where the people fought and were massacred.

Minerve. Some 38 kms from Carcassonne saw a large trebuchet called Malvoisine hurl boulders into the town until it surrendered. 140 were burnt.

Bram. Only 15 kms from Carcassonne. It was here that Simon de Montfort blinded all the males....but left their leader with one eye so that he could lead his men to relative safety.

Beziers. It was here that Arnold Amaury, when asked how his soldiers would recognise who was a Cathar,said "Kill them all, God will know his own". 20,000 died.

Most of the above sites are to the East of Carcassonne. However the heresy spread as far west as Toulouse and it is well worth visiting the Ariege with its fertile valleys, forests and the foot hills of the Pyrenees.Foix was in many ways one of the strongest centres for the Cathars and even after the fall of Montsegur the Perfects still preached in the remote hills and valleys

Carcassonne is an ideal centre for your holiday in the Languedoc exploring the Cathars and their history.There is convenient access to all the main roads and all the sites are within 90 minutes travel.Our holiday house is an ideal base to explore the Languedoc.