Courtizaire du Haut

The village of Chalabre is a 10-minute drive and a 1-hour walk from our domain. You will find a bakery, a butcher's shop, 2 cafes where you can have lunch and a restaurant and a small carrefour that is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. except on Sundays until 12 p.m.
On Saturday morning there is a market in Chalabre until 1 p.m.

Mirepoix is a village in the northern part of the French department of Ariège, in the Occitania region. Mirepoix is a bastide village, founded on the banks of the River Hers long before it received its fortifications.

The history of Mirepoix dates back to the early Gallo-Roman period. In the second century BC, a small settlement was founded on the left bank of the River Hers. Like many other villages in the area, Mirepoix was an important village in Cathar times. During the crusades – against this religious group – Mirepoix was captured by Simon the IV of Montfort in the early thirteenth century.

The most beautiful buildings of Mirepoix can be found on the Place des Couvents. These beautiful colorful wooden buildings with their arcades form the heart of the village. In the summer months, the terraces on the square and under the arches are filled with tourists, enjoying the most beautiful regional products. Centrally located on the square is “Le Halle”, the old covered market hall of Mirepoix. This cast iron market hall is much younger than most of the houses on this square. Next to the market hall you will find the Office du Tourisme, where you can obtain all kinds of information about the village and its surroundings.

Monday is market day in Mirepoix and the entire center is filled with tourists. The market is not very large, but extends over a few streets and squares in the historic center of Mirepoix.
There are also several restaurants that are open all year round.
Some recommendations are: Minotier, L'autre jardin and Clos des Oliviers (lunch).

A 40-minute drive away is the castle of Montségur, symbol of the Cathar resistance, built at the beginning of the 13th century and was a refuge for many Cathars persecuted during the Inquisition. The castle became the scene of the tragedy of the "Prat dels Cremats", the Field of Burning, after it was captured by the royal army in March 1244 after a ten-month siege. 225 Cathars who refused to surrender ended up on the pyre. The historical and archaeological museum, located in the village of Montségur, tells the history of this place and of the Cathars through a rich collection of objects from excavations carried out on the castle site.

Perched on a rock ledge at an altitude of 1,207 metres, the castle of Montségur, accessible by a half-hour walk, offers, in addition to its remains, a magnificent view of the village below and the surrounding landscape.

The village of Rennes le Chateau is a 35-minute drive away.
In the heart of the high Aude valley, in the Corbières, the story of Bérenger Saunière, parish priest of Rennes-le-Château from 1885 to 1917, has kept people busy. His sudden wealth, which is still a mystery to this day, made it possible for him to have a beautiful estate built in a few years - to which the villa Béthanie, the Magdala tower and the glass tower still testify -, and the thrifty built village church to be lavishly restored.

In the former parsonage, a museum tells the incredible history of Rennes-le-Château, and the mysterious wealth of Father Saunière...

You will find two restaurants here where you can have lunch and dinner. Of which L'Escondida has the most enchanting view of the valley.

The medieval castle of Foix, which dominates the roofs of the old town and the confluence of the Ariège and Arget from its high, protruding rock, has retained from its past as an impregnable, fortified place, three towers with mezekouws and high walls. This imposing fortress of the Counts of Foix today houses the Ariège departmental museum, a space that tells the history of the County of Foix and its castle through thematic exhibitions and medieval collections, composed of everyday objects, weapons and armor. This elevated site offers a beautiful panorama of the city, the Ariège valley and the surrounding mountains from the top of its round tower.

Lower down, the old town of Foix really invites you to stroll, with its shopping alleys and beautiful squares full of café terraces. During a stroll, do not miss the abbey church of Saint-Volusien with its beautifully carved choir stalls from the 17th century, as well as the Baltard-type grain market hall.

During the month of August, a historical light and sound show is offered at the Théâtre de Verdure in Foix.

The city celebrates the first weekend of September with a fair, balls, a torchlight procession and concerts. Animation assured!

Puilaurens Castle is a 1-hour drive away.
This is of course the castle that is the primary goal of a step Puilaurens. It is mentioned as early as the 10th century, belonging to the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa. In the eleventh century, it belongs to the Count of Besalù, then the Viscount of Narbonne. The first lord of the place as such is Pierre Catala. We are then in the thirteenth century and disputes over the sovereignty of the kingdom of Toulouse and the Albigensian Crusades are many. Cathars are sheltered in the castle which becomes a real impregnable citadel. Or almost: Spaniards will be able to pick it up promptly at the end of the Middle Ages. In 1250 the castle came under the control of the Kingdom of France in 1255 and St. Louis requests that the fortifications be strengthened.

Puilaurens then is one of the five "sons" of Carcassonne with the castles of Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Termes and Aguilar, but because of its geographical position, that is what Puilaurens parked the largest garrison opposite the Aragón border. It fulfilled this role until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, which redefined the borders. If he has so far resisted the Spanish raids, Puilaurens no longer has a real strategic importance. Poorly maintained, it is abandoned to the revolution.

Now owned by the city, the castle has certainly lost some of its towers and walls, but most of its architecture has been preserved. It is always accessible via a narrow path and a barbican. Classified in 1902, it remains a very good example of medieval military architecture. For visitors it all proves to be both an uplifting dip into ancient history and synonymous with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Free visit or commented from April to mid-November. Price: from 4 and 9 euros. Information on +33 4 68 20 65 26.

Another way to discover the city and the region is the walk by the train of the Cathar country and Fenouillèdes also said the Red Train: for tourism, winding through the vineyards, viaducts and Pyrenees, crosses the valley at the foot of the castle and stops at Lapradelle station. All information on 04 68 200 400 or +33 4 68 59 99 02.

The city with the citadel of Carcasonne is a 40-minute drive away, a must visit!
Carcassonne is undoubtedly the most famous medieval fortified city in the Occitania region. The citadel and the Canal du Midi that runs through the city are both on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Carcassonne is also known for the board game of the same name and is located in the Aude, the country of the Cathars.

Main attractions of Carcassonne
The medieval city with 52 towers and 3 km of city walls: a walk around the citadel lets you discover more than 25 centuries of history. You will learn more about the countless transformations and architectural adjustments aimed at the evolution of war and defense techniques.
The Basilica Saint Nazaire (11th-13th century) with the windows (12th-16th century) is one of the most beautiful in southern France. It is a successful mix of Romanesque and Gothic art.
The Château Comtal (11th-13th century) with defensive wall and moat, archaeological museum with many temporary exhibitions and model of the city. A film shows you the history of the citadel. And from the castle you have an incredible view over the Bastide Saint Louis!
The old bridge, once the only connection between the upper and lower city. This is one of the most special viewpoints over the medieval city and has been immortalized by countless photographers.
The lower town Bastide Saint Louis (13th century) with its numerous mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries, Saint Michel Cathedral, Church of Saint Vincent, the covered market hall and Place Carnot, where the locals meet and it takes place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday market. The city walls are the remains of the old fortifications of the lower city.
The Canal du Midi, the most important work of engineer Pierre Paul Riquet during the time of the Sun King, which connected the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. Take a boat trip from the port of Carcassonne and discover more about the origins of the canal.
Land of the Cathars: the area surrounding Carcassonne with its many castles and abbeys is reminiscent of the Cathar era.

The Cathars
Some people follow the wine route. You, on the other hand, choose the route past the Cathar castles. A good choice! Carcassonne is always the starting or ending point. You can not ignore it. And not for its "Cinq Fils" (five medieval castles) and the four castles of Lastours. And you still haven't had enough of it afterwards? Then take the road to the Abbaye de Fontfroide, Saint-Hilaire or the Château de Foix.

Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Queribus and Termes. Carcassonne could always count on the "Cinq Fils", five neighboring castles, for its defense. During sieges, these five imposing castles formed an obstacle for the enemy. The king of Aragon was frustrated by this insurmountable front line.

If you don't have much time, head straight to the castles of Lastours. In the heart of the Montagne Noire there are no fewer than four castles at an altitude of 300 meters with a view over the river. The four castles of Cabaret, Surdespine, Quertinheux and Tour Régine seem to hang above the abyss.

The Albigensian Crusade
In 1208 the Pope called for a crusade against the heretics who had taken refuge in Languedoc. The southern French feudal lords prepared for battle. Only Trencavel, the viscount of the Cathar cities of Béziers, Carcassonne and Albi, resisted. After Béziers was captured and the population massacred, enemy number one, the crusaders, fled to Carcassonne. The siege of the city could begin...

The crusaders from the north who came to the aid of their southern compatriots were certainly no sweethearts. Numerous acts of violence occurred during the Crusades. Robbed by their own comrades in arms, disenchanted landlords chose to defect to the opposing party and join the Cathars.

The Cathar epic was a bloody affair to the end. The siege of Montségur on March 16, 1244 ended with a funeral pyre. Hundreds of Cathars voluntarily threw themselves into the fire because they did not want to renounce their faith.