Chateau Montsegur

Crédits mentions légales.

Chateau montsegur. After the castle surrendered about 210 perfecti and unrepentant credentes were burned in a bonfire on 16 march 1244. 33 5 61 01 06 94 guide montsegur orange fr. The village is animated by tourist activity and the numerous secondary residents many of whom have old montsegur or ariège roots. The siege of montségur was a nine month siege of the cathar held château de montségur by french royal forces starting in may 1243.

Montesegur is just magical. Montsegur is a commune in the ariège department in southwestern france. Interesting the first part of hike is in woods with lots of trees and microclimate. The ruins of montségur are perched at a precarious 1 200 metres 3 900 ft altitude in the south of france near the pyrenees.

The climb is step and difficult in places during both wet and dry conditions. It is famous as the last cathar stronghold which fell after a 10 month siege in 1244. Its about a 25 30 minute climb if you are fit and you pay the 6 5e entry fee about 1 3 of the way up the mountain. It is famous for its fortification the château de montségur that was built on the pog mountain on the ruins of one of the last strongholds of the cathars the present fortress on the site though described as one of the cathar castles is from a later period.

Château de montségur paolo ramponi on flickr creative commons on the morning of march 16th 1244 over 200 cathars led by their bishop bertrand marty walked out of the montségur fortified. So many have described chateau de montsegur that little needs to be added. 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. Many of the stones appear polished and are slippery even during dry conditions so wear good hiking shoes and take it slowly.

Then next half is all rock and very steep.