Château de Montségur

The Pyrenees


For the full Monty Python medieval vibe, tackle the steep 20-minute climb to the ruins of this hilltop fortress, 32km east of Foix (and don't forget to bring your own water). It’s the westernmost of the string of Cathar castles stretching across into Languedoc; the original castle was razed to rubble after the siege, and the present-day ruins largely date from the 17th century.

It was here, in 1242, that the Cathars suffered their heaviest defeat; the castle fell after a gruelling nine-month siege, and 220 of the defenders were burnt alive when they refused to renounce their faith. A local legend claims that the Holy Grail was smuggled out of the castle in the days before the final battle. Tickets also grant admission to the historical museum in the nearby village of Montségur.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Pyrenees attractions

1. Musée de Montségur

0.29 MILES

Tucked into the sleepy village of Montségur, this small museum contains a collection of Cathar relics, models of siege weapons and visual displays of what…

2. Les Forges de Pyrène

11.12 MILES

In Montgailhard, 4.5km south of Foix, this ‘living museum’ explores Ariège folk traditions, with live displays of ancient trades such as blacksmithing,…

3. Lombrives

11.43 MILES

Twenty-two kilometres northwest of Ax-les-Thermes on the N20 near Ussat-les-Bains, Europe’s largest cave system burrows its way through the soft limestone…

4. Château de Puivert

11.73 MILES

Built during the late 12th century on a 605m-high promontory 58km southwest of Carcassonne via the D118 and D620, Puivert belonged to the aristocratic…

5. Grotte de Niaux

12.72 MILES

Most people know about the prehistoric artworks of the Dordogne, but far fewer realise that ancient painters left their mark in caves all across the…

6. Château de Foix

13.15 MILES

The Ariège’s most unmistakeable landmark is Foix’ triple-towered castle, the stronghold of the powerful Comtes de Foix. Built in the 10th century, it…

7. Parc de la Préhistoire

13.17 MILES

Eighteen kilometres south of Foix, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, this excellent museum-park provides a useful primer on the area’s prehistoric past. The…

8. Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche

15.8 MILES

Deep beneath the village of Labouiche, 6km northwest of Foix, flows Europe’s longest navigable underground river. Discovered in 1908 by a local doctor, it…