The Château de Montségur, the stronghold of Catharism

Spotlight on the Château de Montségur

Montségur is one of the eight best-known Cathar castles. Perched on the summit of a pog (a rock formation shaped like a sugarloaf, also known as a “puy” or “puech”), it culminates at 1,207 metres altitude. It overlooks the village of Montségur and the rest of the Pays d’Olmes region.

The site owes its reputation to its major role in the conflict between the Church and the Cathars in the 11^th century. The castle was built by Raymond de Péreille on the site of a former castrum in 1206. The place very quickly became one of the main refuges for the Cathars and the Faydits, turning Montsegur into a symbol of resistance. The castle was subsequently besieged between 1243 and 1244. A siege sought and supported by Louis IX, King of France, and orchestrated by the Inquisition. After valiantly defending himself for 10 months, Raymond de Péreille was forced to face the facts. The nobleman negotiated a surrender, in the hope of saving his men. The bastion thus passed into the hands of the Lévis-Mirepoix family.

They initially renovated the fortress, but gradually lost interest in the castle. It was used as a quarry for a time but was finally abandoned at the end of the 16^th century. However, there was renewed interest in the castle in the 19^th century. In 1862, it was officially listed as a Historic Monument. The pog was also added to this list in 1883. Listing means the remains found at the site are protected so that present and future generations can visit and understand how people lived here in the past.

And did you know? There are several legends surrounding Montségur. The most famous claims that after the dissolution of the Templar Order by Pope Clement V, the last knights of the brotherhood took refuge in the castle.

So, what’s on the agenda?

You can visit the castle from January to December. To get there, it takes about 30 minutes on foot so remember to bring sports shoes or hiking boots, as well as suitable clothing. The walk is the first stage of the visit, as you’ll spot many steles along the way. It is definitely worth the effort because the views from the top are simply magnificent. When the weather is fine, you can admire the region’s best-known landmarks: the Gorges de la Frau, the Sault plateau, the Lauragais region, the Château de Roquefixade, and so on.

At the top, the castle walls and the keep are still standing, including the defensive wall which rises to a height of over 4 metres. Inside the fortifications, your guide will recount the castle’s history. You can also visit the ruins of the castrum.

To complete your visit, we strongly recommend a trip to the museum devoted to the history of Montségur. There you will find the remarkable objects collected on the mountain, allowing us to learn more about daily life here in the past. The museum also features a 3D reproduction of the castrum. The presentation brings the walls, the village and the towers back to life.

If you are on holiday in one of our Yelloh! Villages in the Ariège or the Aude, you could continue your historical exploration by visiting the 7 other Cathar castles: Carcassonne, Aguilar, Lastours, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Termes and Quéribus. These fortresses have submitted a joint application to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

09300 Montségur

https://www.payscathare.org/en/the-sites/montsegur-castle