The Cathar Martyrs
Ville Carcassonne
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Carcassonne
This is an outstanding walled city in Aude
department. It was made a UNESCO world heritage site in
1997.
Please note that its fine state of preservation
is the result of partial reconstruction subsequent to 1853 when it was
falling into dereliction.
As with Beziers it
was a Celtic and later Roman settlement and featured during the
Albigensian crusade. The town surrendered to Simon de Montfort in
August 1209, just a month after the populace of Beziers were
slaughtered. Raymond-Roger Trencavel, a Catholic, was the city's
Lord at the time of it's capture by de Montfort and died in it's
dudgeons after it's capture. The populace was given one day to
leave the city.
A failed attempt to recapture it in the revolt
of 1240 was followed by its take over by Louis IX of France in
1246.
There are double walls and a total of 53
towers. The cathedral was founded by Pope Urban II in
1096.
 
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