Visiting Minerve - some Cathar history

My curiosity for all things Cathar is taking hold. I'm reaching the end of the book Labyrinth by Kate Mosse which timed nicely with our trip to Minerve, just an hour or so to the west of us.

The weather wasn't great, but this helped us go back to the dark days of the 13th century when in 1210 the village was besieged by Simon de Montfort and his army from Northern France. A group of Cathars had sought refuge in Minerve after the massacre of Beziers. After six weeks Viscount Guilhem of Minerve surrendered saving the villagers and himself. Some 140 loyal Cathars refused to give up their faith and met their deaths on 22 July. Such is one of the many horrific stories of the Albigensian Crusade that stormed the Languedoc region. Of all of the original fortifications in Minerve, only a slender octagonal tower, known locally as the Candela, survives.

Wandering around the town now it is easy to see why Minerve is noted as one of the most beautiful villages in France. You will find restaurants with dramatic views, galleries and a fabulously-curious book shop/cafe. A museum dedicated to paleontology took my son's interest - not bad considering on the drive up his comments were "I want to go home, it's just a load of old rocks here". He was soon in the swing of it all - sneeking around the cobbled ramparts and down stone stairway to check out the replica catapult that changed the village's history.

Don't be put off by the chilling history of these crusades. There too are many stories of the Cathars' courage and faithful determination to hold their villages, castles and cities. When we look at today's news, things really aren't that different are they?