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Origin and history

Montaillou Castle is an ancient 13th century castle, now in ruins, located in the Ariège department, in the Occitan region. Its remains, inscribed in historical monuments since 1984, stand on a hill above the village, dominating the upper valley of the Hers. Originally, it was a border fortress between Foix County and Saultland, mentioned in 1272 as one of the strongholds defending against Aragon.

The castle is closely linked to the Cathar story: in 1258, its owner Bernard d'Alion, lord of Donezan and husband of Esclarmonde de Foix (a presumed illegitimate daughter of the Count of Foix), was sentenced for heresy and burned alive in Perpignan. The castle, probably demolished after this event, was later rebuilt. In 1309 it served as a gathering place for the inhabitants of Montaillou, accused of heresy by the Inquisition, before their transfer to Carcassonne for interrogation.

In the 15th century, facing the wars of Religion, the castle was strengthened to resist a siege. The villagers are actively involved in its rehabilitation: the construction of schauguers, the supply of weapons (arms, cannons, stone pellets) and supplies, while the men of combat age are mobilized for its defence. The dungeon and the lower yard, equipped with ditches and hoards, become a strategic point. However, having lost its role as border post, the castle was finally dismantled in 1638 by order of Louis XIII.

Today, there are only sections of the dungeon and courtines, as well as traces of the ditches. A dungeon, located in the lower part of a tower, is also attested. The stones of the ruins were partly used to build the village. The site, owned by the commune, offers testimony to the medieval conflicts and military architecture of the period.

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