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The castle of Montsegur

Discovery of a Cathar castle in the southwest of France: the castle of Montsegur

The Cathars were Christians who challenged the authority of the Pope and the Church. Their community, led by Perfects (spiritual guides), flourished in south-west France. The Perfects led a rigorous life, practising vegetarianism, renouncing all material possessions and observing strict chastity.

On the other hand, the obligations were less restrictive for ordinary believers.

After allowing the movement to develop, the Pope decided to suppress it by launching a crusade. Despite numerous persecutions, the last Cathars found refuge in an inaccessible castle: Montségur Castle.

The winter of 1244 was a tragic one for the castle. On 16 March, after more than 10 months of siege, the Cathars surrendered. Of the 400 remaining defenders, 200 refused to recant their faith and were burnt alive at the foot of the castle.

It should be noted that the ruins of the castle today are not those of the original Cathar castle, which was rebuilt a few years later. Details of the original castle are rare.

Interest: disappointing (1 user)
Difficulty:
Duration: 2 h.
Practical information

The castle of Montségur

The most spectacular moment to admire the castle is when you approach it. That's when its majestic silhouette stands out, revealing all its grandeur and beauty.
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Departure

It's easy to find the start: there are signposts, a car park and the castle can be seen from a distance. The car park is at the foot of the castle and it's a 30-minute walk to the top. Entrance to the castle is not free, and you will have to pay an entrance fee of €6 (July-August) halfway along the route.
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The interior of the castle

Small disappointment at the arrival at the top, the castle is really in ruin, there are only the walls. We can advise the commented visit otherwise the visit can be finished in 15 minutes. The entrance fee is expensive compared to the duration of the visit.
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The walls of Montségur castle

Seen from a distance, the castle appears much larger and more magnificent, even though it is actually quite modest in size.
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View on the surrounding area

Perched on a rocky spur, this impressive medieval castle dominates the valley and offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
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Below the parking lot

You can see the cars and the start of the path that leads to the castle.
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