A cathar village
In the Middle Ages, Montségur was a Cathar village, growing up in the shadow of the mountain-top castle (le pog). Alone and the last to resist the Roman Catholic Church, Montségur eventually gave in and suffered tragedy. The fortress was rebuilt, and the village was rebuilt on its current site.
At the end of the 15th century, it boasted a square square, now the Caroulet district, lined with half-timbered houses. On today’s village square stands the church of Notre Dame de la Nativité, built in the late 16th century and enlarged in the 18th. At the eastern end of the village, the Caroulet belvedere offers a breathtaking view of the gorges and the ancient glacial valley of Montségur.
Legend joins history here, and many typically Montségurian tales and legends from the evening vigils have stood the test of time and still fuel the mystery today…


