Walks in the Cathar region – Cathar castles of South-West France –

“This beautiful corner of France in the foothills of the eastern Pyrenees near Carcassonne is renowned for its medieval castles associated with the ill-fated Cathar ‘heresy’. The area has both wonderful landscapes and a compelling story to tell – from the first terrible massacre in Béziers in 1209 to the last defiant stand at Montségur, where in 1244, after a long siege, over 200 Cathars were burnt at the stake.
– Each walk visits a castle or monument associated with the Cathars and describes its part in Cathar history.
– All the monuments are set in superb walking country, with rolling hills, high mountains, Mediterranean vine-yards and limestone plateaux cut by deep gorges.
– Sketch maps, colour illustrations and practical information supplement the route descriptions.”