Château de Montségur: Castle and Last Refuge of the Cathars

Château de Montségur is one of a few castles in the Languedoc region referred to as a “Cathar Castle.” It’s also, without doubt, the most iconic and most spectacular.

On this walking tour with James McDonald, a historian who specialises in the Cathars of the Languedoc, you’ll hear the story of the full-scale crusade against them in 1244. He’ll also tell you about this group’s religious beliefs and the consequences of those beliefs.

As you walk up to the ruins of the hill-top castle, Château de Montségur, I’ll share the tragic story that has made this site a place of pilgrimage for so many, even today. You’ll hear a historically rigorous account of what happened here – and why – while you visit the castle. On the way, I’ll highlight some of the extraordinary elements of the story, provide extensive background, and explode popular myths about the Cathars.

You’ll also have a chance to:

• Understand Cathar belief in the context of Early Christianities and Medieval Catholicism
• Find out how medieval siege warfare and castle architecture developed over the years
• Hear about the siege of Montségur by three armies from 1243-44, and how 200 men managed to hold off an army of over 10,000 for more than ten months
• Learn about subsequent events including the burning alive of baptised Cathars
• Wonder at the astonishing fortitude of pacifist Cathars in the face of persecution by the Catholic Church
• Walk the same paths taken by condemned Cathars on their way to the stake
• Consider how this event is connected to the annexation of this area (Occitania), the Kingdom of France, and the decline of Occitania and the rise of the Inquisition
• Decode some exotic terminology, such as castrum, faidit, pog, and consolamentum

Because very little information is provided at the site, many visitors leave without much knowledge about the events that unfolded here. By the end of this tour, you’ll have received a coherent and fascinating explanation of the key events, in context, along with astonishing stories of heroism, assassination, and medieval warfare. Ultimately, you’ll have gained a sense of the sheer horror of the mass execution of one group of Christians by another.

Please note: You’ll need to purchase a separate entry ticket to enter the castle