UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Carcassonne
Regarded as the most spectacular and best-preserved medieval city in Europe, it serves as the perfect starting point to explore the Cathar Country. The Narbonne Gate is the main entrance to the Cité, encircled by a double ring of concentric walls and 52 towers. This bustling city is filled with shops selling artisanal goods and restaurants serving the delicious cassoulet, a stew that begs to be paired with a Languedoc-Roussillon wine. A visit to the 12th-century castle, the Gothic cathedral, and a walk along the double walls are must-dos.
Lastours
Four fortresses, true stone “eagles’ nests,” bear names inspired by medieval epic poems: Cabaret, Tour Régine, Quertinheux, and Fleur d’Espine. The most striking view of these castles is from the Belvedere de Montfermier, a natural vantage point that, like an amphitheater, transports you to the Middle Ages with just a moment’s imagination.
Minerve
This small village of steep streets, a haven for artists and craftsmen, is listed among France’s most beautiful villages. Its picturesque scene is enchanting, with houses seemingly hanging on the edge of a cliff. At one end, remnants of the fortress and an angular tower stand as witnesses to the brutality of the Crusades: 180 people, including some Templars, were burned alive. The Templar House still remains, and opposite the church stands a carved stone in the shape of a dove, the Cathars’ symbol of peace.
Lagrasse
This village sits along the Orbieu River, connected by two medieval bridges. Ranked among France’s most beautiful villages, its well-preserved old quarter features narrow, cobblestone streets leading to the Halle, a covered medieval market. Across the river rises the Sainte Marie d’Orbieu Abbey, founded in the 8th century.
Peyrepertuse
Perched atop a rocky ridge with vertical walls reaching up to 80 meters, it was one of the most formidable Cathar strongholds. Its mere presence speaks volumes about the bastion it once was. After parking, it’s worth walking around the castle to its imposing northern face.
Quéribus
Close to Peyrepertuse stands another significant Cathar fortress, at 628 meters above sea level. Restored in the mid-20th century, it features three levels of enclosures, several stunning Gothic rooms, and a climb to the top of the keep that rewards with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees.
Montségur
This peak at 1,200 meters was an emblem of Catharism. Its fall marked the definitive end of the movement in this region of the Pyrenees, triggering the Cathar exodus to the Iberian Peninsula. A plaque near the castle marks the spot where 215 men, women, and children were burned in 1243.
Mirepoix
One of the twelve fortified towns along the Route des Bastides, it boasts a beautiful arcaded square and a Gothic cathedral whose wide central nave is an artistic gem of the Cathar Route.
Saissac
This village, along with the ruins of its Cathar castle, overlooks the landscape from a wooded hill in the Black Mountain region.
Albi
The journey ends in this charming city along the Tarn River, dominated by the Episcopal City, which includes the Cathedral and the Berbier Palace. This is where Catharism originated, as its followers were also known as Albigensians. It’s said that the first Cathar bishop hailed from Albi and that its residents resisted the execution of some “good men” in the city. A visit to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in the Berbier Palace, a stroll through its manicured gardens, and enjoying the city and its exquisite cuisine are essential.