Latest news with #Cathar
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Best city in France' that's just as good as Paris but with fewer tourists
The beautiful city in the south of France is considered to be the best in the country, yet it remains relatively unknown to tourists compared to the likes of Paris A stunning and captivating French city, hailed as the country's finest, remains a hidden gem to many tourists. This fortified city is nestled in the south, approximately 50 miles east of Toulouse. It can be reached from Paris via a six-and-a-half hour train ride, or an eight-hour car journey. However, it's recommended to visit the city from Barcelona, which is a mere three-and-a-half hours by car. On average, the city welcomes three to four million visitors annually, a stark contrast to the 47.5 million that flocked to Paris last year. Over 54 percent of these were international guests, showcasing the city's worldwide allure, according to Road Genius. Carcassonne, situated in the Aude department of Occitania, spans 25 square miles, considerably larger than most small towns in the department. The rivers of Aude, Fresquel and the Canal du Midi all meander through the city, reports the Express. Today, the city stands as a spectacular testament to medieval fortification, with its encompassing 13th-century defences, buildings, streets and Gothic cathedral. As such, it's reputed to possess the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Europe. The Catholic cathedral - Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Carcassonne - was constructed in the 13th-century as a parish church. However, following damage from warfare a century later, it was reconstructed as a fortified church. In 1803, St Michael's was elevated to cathedral status. Its exquisite stained glass dates back to the 14th- to 16th-centuries. One can embark on a guided boat tour along the Canal du Midi, which can last an hour or more. After exploring all the passageways and parapets, you're just minutes away from Carcassonne where you can discover vineyards, wine caves and ruined castles, including the Cathar castles erected by triumphant French Crusaders. The area has been populated since the Neolithic era and held significant strategic value for the Romans, who occupied the city until the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The citadel - known as the Cité de Carcassonne - was established during the Gallo-Roman period (260-72 AD) and is renowned for its 1.9-mile double surrounding walls punctuated with 52 towers. Its exceptional representation of architecture and planning earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1997. On Tripadvisor, the fortified city has been praised as "well preserved and interesting", making it ideal for those seeking to experience an "looking to see an authentic French fortress." The city was demilitarised under Napoleon Bonaparte and the Restoration, falling into such a state of disrepair that the French Government contemplated demolishing it in 1849. This proposal sparked outrage, with Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille (the mayor of Carcassonne) and writer Prosper Mérimée spearheading a campaign to preserve it as a historical monument. The decision was subsequently reversed and restoration work commenced in 1853, under the guidance of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Owing to its UNESCO status, the city heavily depends on tourism for its economy, alongside manufacturing and winemaking. It's situated on what were historically the trade routes connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, and the Massif Central with the Pyrénées. The Ville Basse, or "low town", constitutes the more contemporary part of Carcassonne, housing 48,000 inhabitants. It was founded in 1240 following the expulsion of defiant citizens from the Cité. Despite being torched by Edward the Black Prince in 355 when he failed to seize the citadel, it remains the commercial hub of modern-day Carcassonne.
Times
23-04-2025
- General
- Times
How an Englishwoman is saving 100-year-old French vines
When is it good to be old? We humans, generally, are in no rush: wisdom doesn't seem to have quite the currency it once did, while wrinkles are valued exactly as they always were. We should take our cue from wine, which is traditionally considered to improve with age — at least, fine wine is. This was true even in Roman times. Their finest wine, Falernian, from the fabled vintage of 121BC, was considered so good that it was still being drunk with enthusiasm 75 years later and with rather less gusto a century after that. Still, it was kept because it was so good and considered so good in part because it aged well. What is odd, given how much drinkers care about ageable wine, is how little we talk about vine age. A vine needs at least three years to produce grapes that can be turned into wine; after that vines, like people, generally improve as they mature. If planted in the right soils and looked after but not cossetted, vines that escape disease or disaster can age a long time — there are vines on Santorini believed to be more than 200 years old. Really old vines yield very few but very high-quality grapes, and the resulting wine will often have a subtle extra layer of flavour and texture. The trouble is that these precious vines have often been replaced by more productive youngsters. 'They are very high maintenance,' says Katie Jones, an Englishwoman who founded Domaine Jones in the Languedoc in 2008. 'The cost of taking care of them can be astronomical.' She has vines dating back to 1905, the rows planted a horse-width apart — which is too narrow for a tractor, so everything must be done by hand. She can understand why people rip them up — but she is not afraid of small quantities: her output is just 16,000 bottles, only 300 of which are her spicy yet luscious La Perle Rare Grenache Gris. And she thinks the history in these gnarled old vines, and the quality of wine they produce, makes them worth saving. So she has put her best old vines up for adoption. 'They are up on the hill, surrounded by little stone walls, with wonderful views of the Château d'Aguilar' — a 12th-century Cathar castle. It's like adopting a dog, she reasons: 'the prettier they are, the more likely they are to be rescued!'. Vine lovers who join this Old Vine Club win the right to rename their vine, a 10 per cent discount on Jones's lovely wines and, should they drive the 40 minutes from Perpignan, a VIP tasting — 'and I take them out in the 2CV to have a glass of wine beside their vine'. And people do come to visit their vine, up in these wild and beautiful hills that feel a long way from anywhere — as they would have been before the car. 'They really develop an attachment,' says Jones, who relays photos and messages between parent and plant throughout the year. 'They literally go up and start talking to it!' People often name the vines after loved ones, 'so they may have something they want to whisper to it, or sometimes they sing it a song'. There's an invitation to the annual harvest day party for vine owners, where Jones barbecues and members can pick a few grapes and picnic among the old vines. She isn't the only one preoccupied with protecting old vines — from being ripped up and also from having their importance diluted by the cynical use of the term (there is no legal definition). Rosa Kruger, the admired South African viticulturist, has started an Old Vine Project that records the whereabouts of older vines and shields them from modern efficiencies, helping to save an irreplaceable element of the Cape's heritage. There is also an Old Vine Conference that promotes research and shares information. Its Old Vine Hero Awards recognise the people who are doing the most to revitalise, learn from and communicate about old vineyards. The awards were announced at the end of March, with a Bolivian winery, Bodegas y Viñedos Yokich, winning Best Viticulture Team for over 20 years of protecting and promoting the region's ancient vineyards. Jones's project germinated during Covid, when she would film her rambles through the vineyards and was surprised by the level of interest in the life of someone (perhaps especially, someone English) making wine in this wilderness. She has had an illustrated map drawn up and her vine lovers can stroll in the vineyards. She plans an audio guide too, but her ambitions are bigger: she wants to let the vines speak for themselves. 'They do talk, you know: 'I'm so thirsty,' or 'I just had my hair cut' [after she prunes them]. There is massive potential to get them to tell the history of the region.' Quite right too. After all, they are the history of the region. Adopting a vine and joining the Domaine Jones Old Vine Club costs £70 including a welcome pack and visiting privileges, or £320 a year, which also includes 12 bottles of wine.
Local France
09-03-2025
- Local France
Mortgages, medics and castles: essential articles for life in France
Before you go scouring the property pages for your ideal French home, you need to know that there are some fairly strict rules for those seeking a mortgage, including tight limits on minimum income and maximum loan length – here's how it all works. If you are looking to move to France, access to nearby health services will be an important consideration. Booking a medical appointment in France can be time-consuming – especially if you are new to the country and are looking for an English-speaking doctor. One from the archives, but still important for day-to-day life in France, as anyone going through the process of applying for official French documentation such as a residency or health insurance card may need to have some documents translated. Here are the rules for 'official translations'. It is a legal requirement for banks in France and across the European Union to maintain and update the details of their clients as part of their requirement of due diligence in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. They can – and must – occasionally request information from their customers to verify their identity, where they live, and where their money comes from. That can include asking for passports or residency permits for foreigners in France - here's what to expect if this happens to you. French grammar can be fiendishly – some claim deliberately – complicated and almost all French learners have at one point despaired over ever getting it right. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the mistakes your French friends make when speaking English can be very educational, as we explain, here. And finally, some places to consider for your next French holiday… You have probably already heard of the Cité de Carcassonne, but what about the eight nearby castles which have now been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status? Here's what you need to know about visiting the Cathar castles in south-west France.
Local France
11-02-2025
- Local France
8 lesser-known castles to visit in south-west France
France's ministry of culture has announced the country's candidates for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2026. They will be the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy as well as the eight 'Cathar castles' of south-west France. While you may have already heard of the medieval Cité de Carcassonne, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, the eight surrounding castles in the Aude and Ariège départements are worth a visit too, and are considerably less crowded than Carcassonne. The French ministry of culture noted in its press release on Monday that the eight castles were "built on rocky peaks in grandiose landscapes" and they "illustrate a pivotal period in history and offer a unique example of military architecture, conferring on them an exceptional universal value". Often called the 'Cathar castles', these structures are commonly associated with the persecuted religious group which lived in the Languedoc region (near modern day Toulouse and Carcassonne) between the 12th and 14th centuries. During an exceptionally brutal period of history, the Cathar religious group - deemed heretics by the Catholic Church - were persecuted and largely exterminated, and the region eventually became part of the kingdom of France. Over the years, the castles have become the centre of many legends surrounding the Cathars (also known as the Albigensians) and have featured in numerous books and films, including The Da Vinci Code. Many of the castles are perched on hilltops or clifftops (a sensible defensive precaution), so they may require a short hike or walk to get there. People with reduced mobility should check in advance with the site, as not all are fully accessible. Some are only open during the summer months. Lastours castles Located about 15km from Carcassonne and 300m above the valleys of the Orbeil and Grésilhou rivers, the Lastours Châteaux now consists of four remaining castles which were originally built in the 11th century as the property of the lords of Cabaret. They were significant locations for Cathar religious activity in the 13th century, hosting important members of the faith. Ultimately, the Lastours Châteaux were destroyed in the 13th century to eliminate a refuge for the Cathars, but they were rebuilt as royal fortresses afterwards. The four remaining castles have been listed as French historic monuments since the 1905. More information about history and visiting on the Pays Cathare tourism site. Tickets cost €9, more info here. Opening hours depend on the time of year. Termes castle Famous for the long siege of 1210 during the Albigensian Crusade, the Termes castle overlooks the Termenet gorges, which you can visit too. The castle is generally closed during the winter months. More information on visits here. Aguilar castle Once the seat of a powerful Occitan knight, the castle was an important fortress in the French crown's line of defence against the kingdom of Aragon. Later, in the 16th century, the castle was taken by the Spanish army. Over time, it lost its strategic importance and fell to disrepair. It became a French historical site in 1949. There is a carpark at the foot of the castle. Bus parking is about 1km from the ticket office. More info on the local tourism site. Peyrepertuse castle Perched on a limestone cliff in the Corbières mountains, the Peyrepertuse castle offers a stunning view across the valley. Though beware - it is also known as the citadelle du vertige (citadel of vertigo). On a good day, you may even be able to see the Mediterranean. The nearby village of Duilhac has an equally fascinating history, having been passed between different feudal Lords until it became part of the Kingdom of France. The agrarian commune traditionally cultivated wine and olives. Info for visiting on the castle's website. Quéribus castle At an altitude of 728m, sitting above the village of Cucugnan, the land that the Quéribus castle now stands on was once a fortified site owned by Chabert de Barbaira, a partisan of the King of Aragon who welcomed the Cathars. Eventually, he surrendered Quéribus to the King of France. Recent archeological excavations in the area have found ceramics that date back to the Iron Age. Visit information on the Aude tourism website. Puilaurens castle The Puilaurens castle is one of the best preserved royal fortresses, at 697m in altitude. There are also several nearby activities, including a visit to the Galamus Gorges for rafting, canoeing or relaxing. The nearby village of Lapradelle-Puilaurens is also along the scenic 'red' train, or the Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes, which runs from Rivesaltes to Axat in the summer months. More info here. Montségur castle Perhaps the most famous of the 'Cathar castles', Montségur (at 1,200m in elevation) was one of the last of the Cathar strongholds to be seized and razed by French Royal forces. All sorts of legends and rumours swirl around this site, notably related to the Holy Grail and buried treasure, which Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler apparently took time out of World War II to investigate. Tickets cost €5.50 - more information on visiting on the Occitanie tourism site.
