The Château de Montségur (English: Castle of Montsegur; Languedocien: Castèl de Montsegur) is a former fortress near Montségur, a commune in the Ariège department in southern France. Its ruins are the site of a razed stronghold of the Cathars. The present fortress on the site, though described as one of the "Cathar castles," is actually of a later period.
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The siege of Montségur was a siege that took place during the Albigensian Crusade. It pitted the royal forces of Louis IX of France and those of the bishops of Albi and Narbonne against the forces of Pierre Roger de Mirepoix, who protected a community of Cathars in Montségur.
The castle surrendered after a nine-month siege. About 210 perfecti and unrepentant credentes were burned in a bonfire at the foot of the mountain on 16 March 1244.
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Montségur is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France.
It is famous for its fortification, the Château de Montségur, that was built on the "pog" on the ruins of one of the last strongholds of the Cathars. The present fortress on the site, though described as one of the "Cathar castles," is from a later period. It has been listed as a historic site by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862. According to the book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail, Montségur was the location of a mythical treasure related to the Holy Grail, which was promptly smuggled away before the Cathar surrender.
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Montferrier is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France.
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The canton of Pays d'Olmes is an administrative division of the Ariège department, southern France. It was created at the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015. Its seat is in Lavelanet.
It consists of the following communes:
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Saint-Jean-d'Aigues-Vives is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France.
It has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862.