ラ・バスティード＝シュル＝エルの洞窟・トップ3

The most impregnable of the Cathar castles. The Cathars finally surrendered after an 11-month siege. The choice was conversion to the Roman Catholic Church or the stake. 200 Cathars chose the stake...

This castle was the only one of the larger and more famous Cathar castles we were missing... and the visit was totally worth it 🥰

Beautiful view of the "safe mountain" - the somewhat arduous climb is definitely worth it, because from the top you have a fantastic view ☺️

I strongly advise you to take a guided tour. The guide is fascinating.

From here a path leads to the Château de Montségur, a ruin from the Cathar era. There is a fee to visit, but you can get up to halfway up the climb. It's worth the detour!

Montségur Castle is located at an altitude of 1200 metres and is the symbol of the Cathars and of the resistance against the French occupiers. The castle could hold 500 people. Depending on the threat over the years, the castle fills up and then empties again. In 1232, the Bishop of Toulouse makes Montségur the head of the Cathar church. But in 1243 everything changes. The rebellion of the Count of Toulouse has failed and the uprising is crushed. The king gives orders to besiege Montségur. In May 1243, the French set up camp at the foot of the mountain (or “pog”). After a siege of almost a year - around 16 March 1244 - the castle falls into the hands of the besiegers. At the foot of Montségur, 225 “parfaits” are then burned alive.

Castle Montségur is located at 1200 meters and is the symbol of the Cathars and of the resistance against the French occupiers. The fortress could hold 500 people. Depending on the threat over the years, the castle fills up and empties again. In 1232, the Bishop of Toulouse made Montségur head of the Cathar Church. But in 1243 everything changes. The rebellion of the Count of Toulouse failed and the rebellion was crushed. The king gives orders to besiege Montségur. In May 1243, the French set up camp at the foot of the mountain (or “pog”). After a siege of almost a year - around March 16, 1244 - the castle falls into the hands of besiegers. At the foot of Montségur, 225 “parfaits” are then burned alive.

In 1243, the Castle of Montségur was the main stronghold of the Cathars. During the Third Albigensian Crusade, the Crusader army besieged the castle, initially unsuccessfully. Catapults could not be used because of the great height of the fortress. This changed one night when a group of soldiers managed to take a nearby tower, so that the crusaders could attack the castle from about the same height. On March 16, 1244, the Cathars and their defenders surrendered.