8-Day Advanced Small-Group Cathar Country Tour in the French Languedoc with an Expert Guide
Carcassonne, France
Trip Type: Multi-day Tours
Duration: 7 days
Led by a Cathar expert this advanced tour is for academics, experts and aficionados and those who have attended the "Original" one week tour. You visit sites and discuss topics such as the likely origins of Catharism, primary documents and various academic theories and esoteric traditions about them. This tour in in more depth than the original tour and visits some less well known sites. Our tours are not scripted and time is always allowed for questions. We have been helping visitors explore the Languedoc since 1997. Concierge service offered.
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Led by a Cathar expert this advanced tour is for academics, experts and aficionados and those who have attended the "Original" one week tour. You visit sites and discuss topics such as the likely origins of Catharism, primary documents and various academic theories and esoteric traditions about them. This tour in in more depth than the original tour and visits some less well known sites. Our tours are not scripted and time is always allowed for questions. We have been helping visitors explore the Languedoc since 1997. Concierge service offered.
Day 1 — Welcome
Aperitifs and dinner at Château Saint-Ferriol to meet others on the tour in an informal environment.
Day 2 — Albi -& Cordes sur Ciel
Albi - picturesque town which gave its name to the Albigensian Crusade. Spectacular Cathedral.
Cordes sur Ciel - Hilltop town founded by the Count of Toulouse for refugees from the Crusaders.
Day 3 — Mazamet, Hautepoul, Bram
Mazamet - Museum of Catharism with an interesting recreation of Cathar ceremonies.
Hautepoul - Site of a siege during the War against the Cathars
Bram - Circulade & site of an atrocity during the War against the Cathars
Day 4 — Lastours & Minerve
Lastours (Cabaret) - medieval village + 3 Cathar Châteaux which withstood repeated sieges by the Crusaders.
Minerve - Cathar Château and castrum where between 140 and 180 Cathars were burned alive in 1211.
Day 5 — Free day
A free day is provided. You can enjoy a day of respite and explore local markets, food or wine. For those who want to see more Cathar Castles you are offered practical and logistic advice. People typically choose to either do something together or rest and catch up with postcards. Dinner is at the Hotel.
DAY 6 — Avignonet, Lavaur & Les Casses
Avignonet - Site of a Château belonging to the Count of Toulouse where a team of inquisitors were murdered in 1242
Lavaur - Cathedral, site of atrocity during the Cathar Wars (over 400 were burned here)
Les Casses - Site of a mass burning of Cathars. (60 Cathars were burned here)
Also the Basilica, where Saint Dominic preached and Simon de Montfort was originally buried. Lunch is within the Cité and in the afternoon visit the Chateau Comtal, the Viscounts' castle within the Cité of Carcassonne. Dinner is at the Hotel
Day 7 — Foix & Montaillou
Foix - Cathar Château, Capital of the medieval counts of Foix
Montaillou - the famous Cathar village where everyone was arrested and interrogated by Jacques Fournier, the Bishop of Pamiers
DAY 8
Breakfast and Departure.
Day 1 — Welcome
Aperitifs and dinner at Château Saint-Ferriol to meet others on the tour in an informal environment.
Day 2 — Albi -& Cordes sur Ciel
Albi - picturesque town which gave its name to the Albigensian Crusade. Spectacular Cathedral.
Cordes sur Ciel - Hilltop town founded by the Count of Toulouse for refugees from the Crusaders.
Day 3 — Mazamet, Hautepoul, Bram
Mazamet - Museum of Catharism with an interesting recreation of Cathar ceremonies.
Hautepoul - Site of a siege during the War against the Cathars
Bram - Circulade & site of an atrocity during the War against the Cathars
Day 4 — Lastours & Minerve
Lastours (Cabaret) - medieval village + 3 Cathar Châteaux which withstood repeated sieges by the Crusaders.
Minerve - Cathar Château and castrum where between 140 and 180 Cathars were burned alive in 1211.
Day 5 — Free day
A free day is provided. You can enjoy a day of respite and explore local markets, food or wine. For those who want to see more Cathar Castles you are offered practical and logistic advice. People typically choose to either do something together or rest and catch up with postcards. Dinner is at the Hotel.
DAY 6 — Avignonet, Lavaur & Les Casses
Avignonet - Site of a Château belonging to the Count of Toulouse where a team of inquisitors were murdered in 1242
Lavaur - Cathedral, site of atrocity during the Cathar Wars (over 400 were burned here)
Les Casses - Site of a mass burning of Cathars. (60 Cathars were burned here)
Also the Basilica, where Saint Dominic preached and Simon de Montfort was originally buried. Lunch is within the Cité and in the afternoon visit the Chateau Comtal, the Viscounts' castle within the Cité of Carcassonne. Dinner is at the Hotel
Day 7 — Foix & Montaillou
Foix - Cathar Château, Capital of the medieval counts of Foix
Montaillou - the famous Cathar village where everyone was arrested and interrogated by Jacques Fournier, the Bishop of Pamiers
DAY 8
Breakfast and Departure.
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