Minerve

During our month in France last Autumn, an interesting day trip in the Languedoc area of Southwestern France took us to another Cathar village, MINERVE.
The road winds up the valley from the Carcassonne highway, heading toward Minerve, an isolated historic village perched on an island of rock over the meeting of two rivers, the Briant and the Cesse, which tunnel through deep gorges.

The village turned Cathar at the beginning of the thirteenth century, which made it a target for Simon de Montfort's crusade. On July 22, 1210, after a seven week siege, he took the castle and 140 "parfaits" (purified souls) were burnt at the stake because they refused to deny their faith. Little is left of the fortress, except for the candela, a single slender octagonal tower. The village is a hodge-podge of narrow alleys, topped by a simple 12th century church.

Local ladies of the village enjoying Autumn sunshine.

Walking through the river tunnels is possible when the water is low.

Great restaurant where the Sunday luncheon was superb.

Sauntering through the ancient narrow streets. Little museums and shops were numerous.

Many French villages are steeped in history. Stone facades of the buildings, colorful wooden shutters, terra cotta tiles of the roofs, and the cobbled streets, have soaked up centuries of living.

Minerve, an ancient place which captures your heart immediately.