Just off the road between
Toulouse and Carcassonne, this village in Haute-Garonne is well worth a
visit.
It formally had a castle
and the present church is on the site of its chapel. A tower stands
near to where the city gate once stood commemorating the murder of Holy
Inquisitors who were operating from the
town.
After failed popular
risings in 1240 against the crusaders' oppressions, May 1242 saw a raiding
party from Montsegur gain entry to the town by night and and the
killing of the hated members of the Holy Inquisition who
were ensconced in the castle. This act led to retribution
in the form of the crusaders besieging Montsegur and after many
months siege burning over 220 Cathars.
The tower was built in
1610 to reinforce the main town gate, with the crusader statue being added
around 1850. Who he represents is unsure, though he bears the town's
coat of arms.
The church is from the
14-16 centuries being dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles. In the nave
there is a depiction of the death of the Inquisitors and their
acceptance into heaven as martyrs. Despite various calls for their
canonisation, they have not as yet been elevated to
sainthood.
