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Languedoc, The Citadels of Vertigo. The Castles of the Cathars

62 images Created 31 Aug 2015

Demons, saints, heretics, knights, ladies, trobadours. Even the Holy Grail. The ingredients for a good story there are all on these valleys at the foot of the Pyrenees whith romantic vestiges located on spectacular hill tops. The Citadels of Vertigo has been nicknaned this skyline of castles along the ancient border between France and Aragon. For the tourism marketing for many years were the castles of the Cathars, Gnostic Christians that for the Catholic Church were heretics. Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against them at the beginning of twelfth century and after many sieges and several generations of war the local lords were defeated, and the Cathars exterminated or burned alive and the castles annexed to the French kingdom. Most of these castles, advertised as romantic vestiges of the Cathar period, are castles built by the French kings after the Cathar Crusade but they are often built on the site of earlier castles where the Cathars lived and survived. So in castles like Peyrepertuse, Puivert, Queribus perched on the mountains still survive the traces of a faith that did not aspire to leave earthly memories. The most famous is Montségur, the Cathars’s last real stronghold which fell after 10 months of siege in 1244, "the seat and head" of the Cathar church providing a refugee for the faidits, local lords who continued a guerilla war against the invaders. In May 1243 Montsegur was besieged by about 10,000 crusaders. Inside Montsegur were around 200 fighters, 200 pacifists parfaits who took no part in the fighting, and 100 or so other refugees. By the end of January the crusaders were able to construct trebuchets to bombard the defenders, that surrendered on March 1244 after a truce of two weeks, after which the Parfaits would have to abjure their faith or burn alive. During this truce four perfects escaped to save the Cathar "treasure" and on 16 March 1244 more than 200 parfaits were burned alive onto a field under the castle.

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  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304719.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304896.jpg
  • Queribus Castle, spiral staircase. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304793.jpg
  • Queribus Castle, vaulted cieling. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304797.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. Minstrels' Chamber ("Salle des Musiciens"), a rib vaulted room sculpted with8 musicians playing different medieval instrument: bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, tambourine, lute, portable organ, psaltery, rebeck and cithern. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304857.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès castle belonged to the Archbishops of Narbonne until it was seized by Simon de Montfort and given to one of his lieutenants. It was here that the last known Cathar parfit, Guilhem Belibaste, was burnt alive in 1321 on the orders of the archbishop. Inside the castle a historic travel the of Belibaste's life and trial.
    em7305087.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304739.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304747.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304755.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304769.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304772.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7304778.jpg
  • Peyrepertuse Castle. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Pèirapertusa, Occitan, meaning Pierced Rock. The lower part of the castle was built by the kings of Aragon in the 11th Century, the higher part by the French King Louis IX later. It was never subjected to attack during the Crusade against the Cathars but surrendered to the French Crusaders on 1217.
    em7305185.jpg
  • Duilhac village near Peyrepertuse Castle.
    em7304780.jpg
  • Queribus Castle. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304782.jpg
  • Queribus Castle. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304783.jpg
  • Queribus Castle. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304785.jpg
  • Queribus Castle, vaulted cieling. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304796.jpg
  • Queribus Castle. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304805.jpg
  • Queribus Castle. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold.   In a sense it was. After the fall of the Château of Montségur in 1244 surviving Cathars gathered together on this stronghold on the border of Aragon. Perched on a narrow rocky outcrop, the castle stands proudly at 728 metres altitude. The name comes fron the Occitan for rock-boxtree
    em7304808.jpg
  • Landscape near Queribus Castle. Here was the old border between France and Aragon.
    em7304810.jpg
  • Landscape near Queribus Castle. Here was the old border between France and Aragon.
    em7304811.jpg
  • Landscape near Queribus Castle. Here was the old border between France and Aragon.
    em7304812.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304823.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304827.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304829.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304832.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. Minstrels' Chamber ("Salle des Musiciens"), a rib vaulted room sculpted with8 musicians playing different medieval instrument: bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, tambourine, lute, portable organ, psaltery, rebeck and cithern. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304844.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304879.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7304881.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304886.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304899.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304951.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304960.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith. The ruins of the Cathar village.
    em7304974.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. A field below the hilltop castle is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304977.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. This field below the hilltop is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304990.jpg
  • Montsegur Castle is probably the best known of all Cathar Castles. It is famous as the last Cathar stronghold, which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. This field below the hilltop is reputed to be the site where over 200 Cathars were burned alive, having refused to renounce their faith.
    em7304993.jpg
  • Montsegur, the village built after the Croisade.
    em7305005.jpg
  • Puilaurens castle stands on a spur of rock above the Boulzane Valley. Like Queribus it therefore provided a refuge for the Cathars fleeing from the invading forces.This is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", along with Queribus,  Termes,  Aguilar, and Peyrepertuse: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish
    em7305006.jpg
  • Puilaurens castle stands on a spur of rock above the Boulzane Valley. Like Queribus it therefore provided a refuge for the Cathars fleeing from the invading forces.This is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", along with Queribus,  Termes,  Aguilar, and Peyrepertuse: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish
    em7305023.jpg
  • Puilaurens castle stands on a spur of rock above the Boulzane Valley. Like Queribus it therefore provided a refuge for the Cathars fleeing from the invading forces.This is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", along with Queribus,  Termes,  Aguilar, and Peyrepertuse: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish
    em7305037.jpg
  • Foix castle. In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in mediaeval military history. During the Albigensian Crusade the county became a refuge for persecuted Cathars. In the Middle Ages, the castle was considered impregnable.
    em7305044.jpg
  • Foix castle. In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in mediaeval military history. During the Albigensian Crusade the county became a refuge for persecuted Cathars. In the Middle Ages, the castle was considered impregnable.
    em7305066.jpg
  • Foix castle. In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in mediaeval military history. During the Albigensian Crusade the county became a refuge for persecuted Cathars. In the Middle Ages, the castle was considered impregnable.
    em7305017.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès castle belonged to the Archbishops of Narbonne until it was seized by Simon de Montfort and given to one of his lieutenants. It was here that the last known Cathar parfit, Guilhem Belibaste, was burnt alive in 1321 on the orders of the archbishop.
    em7305078.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès castle belonged to the Archbishops of Narbonne until it was seized by Simon de Montfort and given to one of his lieutenants. It was here that the last known Cathar parfit, Guilhem Belibaste, was burnt alive in 1321 on the orders of the archbishop. Inside the castle a historic travel the of Belibaste's life and trial.
    em7305092.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès castle belonged to the Archbishops of Narbonne until it was seized by Simon de Montfort and given to one of his lieutenants. It was here that the last known Cathar parfit, Guilhem Belibaste, was burnt alive in 1321 on the orders of the archbishop. Inside the castle a historic travel the of Belibaste's life and trial.
    em7305093.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès.
    em7305096.jpg
  • Villerouge-Termenès.
    em7305098.jpg
  • Termes castle, catholic chapel. During the Cathar Crusade the castle fell to Simon de Montfort after a siege lasting four months, from August to November 1210
    em7305101.jpg
  • Termes castle. During the Cathar Crusade the castle fell to Simon de Montfort after a siege lasting four months, from August to November 1210
    em7305105.jpg
  • Termes castle. During the Cathar Crusade the castle fell to Simon de Montfort after a siege lasting four months, from August to November 1210
    em7305110.jpg
  • Termes castle. During the Cathar Crusade the castle fell to Simon de Montfort after a siege lasting four months, from August to November 1210
    em7305116.jpg
  • The Spectacular Gorges of Galamus.
    em7305121.jpg
  • The spectacular Gorges of Galamus with the hermitage of St Antoine,
    em7305133.jpg
  • Niaux prehistoric Caves. The steel sculpture reflects, in the positive, the negative space of the entrance to the cave. It is a superb work of art designed by Italian architect  Massimiliano Fuksas. The caves contain many prehistoric paintings  from the Magdalenian period. According to legend, four Cathars were lowered down the cliffs of Montsegur, before its surrender, with the Cathar treasure. that may have been the Holy Grail. According to legend, they hid the Grail in caves like Niaux. For supporters of esoteric theories as the German Otto Rahn some paintings of the caves testified mysterious places of Cathars worship.
    em7305140.jpg
  • Tarascon-sur-Ariege. Museum of Prehistory. Copies of prehistoric paintings from the nearby Niaux Caves. Legends of the Holy Grail surround Chateau Montsegur and the palaeolithic paintings of the Niaux Cave. According to legend, four Cathars were lowered down the cliffs of Montsegur, before its surrender, with the Cathar treasure. that may have been the Holy Grail. According to legend, they hid the Grail in caves like Niaux. For supporters of esoteric theories as the German Otto Rahn some paintings of the caves testified mysterious places of Cathars worship.
    em7305148.jpg
  • Roquefixade village.
    em7305160.jpg
  • Roquefixade village.
    em7305161.jpg
  • Roquefixade. Shop with "Cathars" souvenirs.
    em7305171.jpg
  • Puivert Castle. In the twelfth century a castle stood on this site, which had strong Cathar and troubadour  links. In 1210 the Castle was besieged by Simon de Montfort, and fell after three days
    em7305180.jpg
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