Our road trip through France...
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| We hugged the coast line of Southern France, delighting in the views of the seas and the spectacular contrast between the red rocks and blue ocean. It has been far too long since we've been by an ocean. |
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This is the Queribus Castle, one of the many that were for Cathars, nicknamed "the good Christians". Cathars appeared throughout Europe, but it was in the Languedoc that they flourished, becoming the majority religion in many places. After a series of failed attempts to convert them by preaching and debating, Pope Innocent III called a full scale crusade against them.
From 1208 a series of military campaigns were launched against the Cathars and their sympathizers.
The local nobility of the Languedoc, vassals of the King of Aragon, along with the rest of the local population, sided with the Cathars. As the crusade progressed, Cathars and their sympathizers took refuge in castles and fortified towns, often located on spectacular hill tops in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It was of no use. The Roman Catholic church killed the entire population with the last Cathar being burned alive here. |
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| But isn't Cucugnan a spectacular village to truly get away from it all. Surrounded by farmland and vineyards. We found a quaint village to relax and meander. |
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| We had dinner with Marie Claire, a woman from Belgian who was on a spiritual explore, studying the Cathars. Our dinner was a delightful history lesson. |
While our visit in France was way too short, we discovered new delights and met new friends. There isn't much more one can hope from on an adventure... à bientôt.
1 comments:
Looks amazing!
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