Cathar Castles

The Castles of the Cathars

The Cathar castles are not to be missed - they are one of the major attractions for those looking for the ideal Languedoc villa rental. Villa La Cascade is located in the heart of the Pays Cathare - a French term meaning "Land of the Cathars" used to highlight the Cathar heritage and history of the region where Catharism was traditionally strongest.

Catharism was a name given to a Christian religious sect that appeared in the Languedoc area in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Cathars were also sometimes referred to as the Albigensians (from the town of Albi , northeast of Toulouse). Many visitors to our villa take in the Cathar castles as part of their holiday.Rising out of the Languedoc plain and guarding the old border between France and Aragon, they are visible reminders of a time when Languedoc echoed to the sound of horses’ hooves and cannon.

The anti-Cathar Albigensian Crusade, and the inquisition which followed it, entirely eradicated the Cathars. The Crusade enabled France to conquer the until then independent principalities of Languedoc, such as Toulouse. Like ancient sentinels, the Cathar Castles still gaze across a landscape barely changed since medieval times. Within a short drive of Villa La Cascade you can visit Montsegur, Queribus, Termes, Peyrepertuse and a host of other stunning monuments, each with a unique and often tragic history.