Château de Montaillou

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The ruins of the castle

The Montaillou Castle is a ruined castle dating from the 12th century in the French department Ariège, located near the town of Montaillou.

History

The castle was built by the Lords of Alion towards the end of the 12th century on a ridge north-northeast of Ax -les -Thermes ( Mont d' Aillou 1362 m above sea level ). The plant enclosed an area of 100 by 30/40 meters. For your security, a dry moat was beaten on the north, east and west in the bare rock. On the south side was waived a ditch because of the steep slope. The walls were reinforced end of the 13th century. The Donjon comprised an inner area from eight to ten feet high and was probably three floors. He served not only for defense but also for the transmission of messages with the towers of Prades and Comus. The plant was first documented in 1272 in a list of forts in the county of Foix.

Importance during the Katharerzeit

The Lords of Alion, originally coming from the Pays de Sault by the castles and Usson Quérigut, were vassals of the Counts of Barcelona. Bernard d' Alion married in 1236 the daughter of the Count of Foix, Esclarmonde. Because of its commitment to the Cathar doctrine and his assistance in the defense of Montsegur in 1244, he lost all his goods. Castle and village Montaillou fell to the Counts of Foix, who goal for 1415 to a border fortress between the Kingdom of Aragon, of the county of Foix and the sphere of influence of the King of France. Bernard himself was burned for his faith in 1258 by the Inquisition in Perpignan alive.

End of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century, the castle played again in the records of the Inquisition a role, as the Bishop of Pamiers, Jacques Fournier, the former Kastellanin Béatrice de Planisolles and all the inhabitants of the village was interrogated on suspicion of heresy. The castle itself survived the crusades against the Albigenses.

The end of the castle

In the Hundred Years War the castle was used by the villagers again as temporary protection before 1638 on the orders of Richelieu the castle walls were demolished. Today you can find only the remains of the keep and the moat. Excavations in recent years, parts of the eastern fastening and a residential building could be exposed from the 13th century.

In December 1984, the ruin was added to the list of Monuments historiques.