Today will be partly cloudy, but chilly. We're revisiting Roquefixade and Montségur with Ron, Chris, and Mad. We were last there in April. (see this post: https://retiredtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/04/michelin-driving-tour-april-26.html ) This time we will head directly there appreciating the scenery on the way, but stopping only rarely.
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| Chris Cain photo |
A quick stop at Roquefixade whose castle ruins sit impressively on a rock. This castle seems like it should be Cathar-related and in fact, Cathars did shelter in the town. Actually, however, this castle was deliberately destroyed in 1632 by Louis XIII in a show of royal power.
Onward to the goal of the day, Montségur. Dave will once more lead an expedition to the top of this chateau, which is considered the last stronghold of the Cathars. Once this castle capitulated, the Cathar resistance was crushed and the Albigensian campaign had reached its goal of eliminating those who refused to accept the Catholic religion.
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| "We're going up there?" |
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| Memorial to the Cathars who were burned in this field |
The cool temperatures made the climb more comfortable, but it was still strenuous and required attention to the uneven path.
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| It's easy to smile at the bottom |
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| It's a long way to go. |
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| The path is a bit treacherous |
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| Nearly there, Ron |
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| goal reached |
Once down from the top a couple of hours later, we went to the village of Montségur for lunch.
Entry tickets for the castle also allowed entrance to the museum in town which, while small, was very well done and gave a view of how the castle was likely organized. We stopped at the church on our way to the museum....
....and then headed home for aperos. Another good day in the books with reasonably comfortable weather which allowed us to have aperos on the patio. Life is good.
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