The Cathars and Knights Templar discovery trail

A magnificent trail to explore legendary mysteries of the Middle Ages.

The Order of the Knights Templar was founded in 1118. The Templars were very astute financiers, furnishing accounts only to the Pope himself, so enabling them to build a series of major forts quite quickly. The first of these was erected in the heart of the Larzac. The trail will take you to Sainte Eulalie de Cernon, Saint Jean d'Alcas, La Couvertoirade, La Cavalerie and Le Viala du Pas de Jaux.
Midi-Pyrénées was also the seat of Catharism, a Christian sect that drew the ire of catholics. Cathar ruins are to be seen everywhere, from the village of Hautpoul to the Musée de la Mémoire du Catharisme in Mazamet, and including Roquefixade and of course Montségur, the capital of the Cathar struggle.

  The trail on the Midi-Pyrénées map