Walking holidays & tours in
Spain, Europe & beyond
Spain, Europe & beyond
12 Days
Castles, Cassoulet and Cathars **NEW**
| Tour Description | Dates | Euros |
|---|---|---|
|
Join us on this stunning walk across mystical Cathar country in southwest France, where one of the most controversial events of history took place amid the verdant foothills of the Pyrenees. Eight hundred years after the persecution of the Cathars, thousands of modern pilgrims hike the Cathar Way through old Occitania each year to remember these martyrs and discover their secrets.
During our 12-day journey, we’ll follow in the footsteps of the heroes and villains of the Albigensian Crusade. We’ll listen for the echoing voices of famous troubadours who sang in spectacular but now-abandoned chateaux, kneel in abbeys that once welcomed St. Dominic and his inquisitors, and dodge imaginary missiles launched from the catapults of the despised commander of the Catholic army, Simon de Montfort. Cathar country is rich in the legends of Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail, which is thought by some to have been protected here by the Cathars and Knights Templar. We’ll climb to the ruins of the holy castle of Montsegur, once owned by a famous viscountess who is still worshipped in France as the Cathar Joan of Arc. We’ll also visit Rennes-le-Château, a village shrouded in mystery and suggested as a proposed hiding place of a mysterious Cathar treasure made famous by The Da Vinci Code. The bucolic landscapes of our journey will be as varied and breathtaking as the world-changing events that took place on them: Sun-kissed vineyards and beech forests; looming crags with ramparts of medieval Carcassonne and Foix; deep limestone gorges studded with ancient hermitages of monks; and prehistoric caves where the persecuted took refuge. Throughout our trek, we’ll stay in charming inns and gites of rural Pyrenean villages shadowed by the historic rocky peaks and their Cathar ruins. Each evening, we’ll discuss our discoveries and trade impressions of the day’s walk while sampling wonderful Corbiere wines and exploring another mystery of the region--the secrets of delicious Occitan dishes. We hope you’ll come with us as we launch our maiden pilgrimage walk into the haunting land of Heresy and the Holy Grail. 12-days of glorious hiking with 11-nights of carefully selected accommodations, visits to historical sites both on and off the Cathar route. All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners are also part of this tour. Learn more about the story of Cathar country |
May 28th - June 4th, 2012 | €2000 |
