A trip to Cathar Country in the Langedoc - 5
Foix and Montségur

The seat of the Counts of Foix, who were very supportive of the Cathars. Esclarmonde, the sister of Count Raymond-Roger is famous for being a Perfect herself. Massenet composed an opera about her. The town is dominated by its castle, most of which is 10th century, although the tall round tower is 14th century.

Foix Castle from the river Ariege	The older tower from the high tower	The Valley
Foix Church	The Old Town from the castle	The Castle & Market

This castle was the psychological heart of the Cathar movement. Built in 1204, it was Esclarmonde's stronghold &, judging by the bad modern footpath up, just about impregnable. It was modernised in 1232 & finally besieged in May 1243 by Hugh d-Arcis after the Cathers, very properly, killed off the Inquisitional tribunal at Avignonet. It fell through treachery in 1244 & 225 Cathars were burned below its walls, where there is now a memorial. All this letting themselves be barbecued rather than pragmatically 'renouncing' their beliefs to fight another day (common in the religious wars of the 1500s) seems fanatical until one realises that, if you believe yourself to live in an evil world, this is no big deal. Interestingly, some modern physicists think that our observable universe is a bubble of anomaly in a much larger entity. I think the Cathars would have bought that.

Montségur from the pass	Inside Montségur	The view to the West
Inside Montségur	The memorial to the burned Perfects at the barbecue site & Avis.	The view to the North

Below the castle is the village of Montségur, where there is a museum we did not have time to go round this trip.

Montségur village from the castle

Wedding in the village. (If this couple would like to identify themselves, I will give them a credit here).

Montségur Church