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The Cathar Country
The Cathars, the Knights Templar, Rennes-le-Chateau, The Sauniere Mystery,
The Da Vinci Code, The Magdalene, Mount Cardou, the Visigoths & the Merovingian kings,
Private Cathar Tours available, please click here
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Le Cite Carcassone ---------------- Rennes le Chateau -------------- Mountain Top Cathar Castles --------------Alet le Bains------
Gorge of Galimus-------------------Languedoc Towns ---------------- Unique Cathar Churches-------------------Lourdes--------
Hôtel Eveché, Alet les Bains Photos (Our Hotel) ---- 2007 & 2008 Photos----2009 Part 1 Photos------Cathar Castles 2009 Photos
Click on the titles for photos
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Comments from three past Cathar Country Travellers
This is to thank you for what was the best holiday of my quite long life. the Cathar Country was even more magical than I expected - an earthly paradise - and the power of the landscape geometer was palpable.
Your knowledge and sensitive appreciation of the history of the area brought its mystery, wonder and grief vividly to life. Your easy-going buoyancy and willingness to divert from the schedule - whether to pick up magic stones or raid a car boot sale - made the trip a friendly, relaxed adventure.
you seem to attract interesting people, too. setting out alone, I was delighted to find myself in such a friendly, like-minded group. Some of my most precious memories will be those evenings sitting with wine under the old trees, watching dusk settle over the abbey ruins and discussing the mysteries of the area and life in general. The accommodation and food were superb too - amazing at the price. I look forward to going on another expedition next year.
Lindsey Campbell. BA Oxon (2009 tour)
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“The Cathar Tour to Languedoc has something for everyone whether exploring the mysteries of the Cathars and Rennes Le Chateau or sampling the beautiful environment at our hotel at Alet Le Bain (Nostradamus lived locally). It was wonderfully placed next to the River Aude and the Abbey, set in a landscaped garden of Cypress trees and the food and wine were some of the best you will have in France. Although in a small group there was plenty of opportunity to do your own thing and our tour guide Neil held it all together with a knowledgeable good humour.”Duncan & Anne Harpur (Warrington) (2009 tour)
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The Cathar Country Tour’ provided an opportunity for me to visit an area I had heard so much about and longed to visit. I was not disappointed. Indeed, it surpassed all my expectations. I had a wonderful time.
The decision to book a place was not taken lightly, for I had initial reservations about going on my own. How glad I am that I decided to do so. I felt comfortable immediately and enjoyed the convivial company of all my fellow travelers throughout the two weeks we spent together.
I had imagined that we would travel via the coastal route from Spain, so I was delighted to find that we actually traveled through the Pyrenees. What spectacular views and how green the forests, especially in contrast to the very different mountains and gorges of southern France.
Our comfortable hotel at Alet les Bains had very pleasant professional staff and excellent fare. Its setting is superb and engendered an ambiance of peace and relaxation after our daily journeys. The tour had a diverse and interesting itinerary. Well-researched, relevant information was sensitively given at appropriate moments as we followed the Cathar historical events throughout the area. We had time to admire beautiful cave art, experience the energies of wonderful sacred places, visit historic 'beaux villages', view stunning scenery from ancient battlements and fortified townships. I found all to be splendid. Some places and occasions were heart connecting and touched me deeply.
It is hard to decide what I enjoyed best. The contrasting scenery was spectacular. We were able to visit parts of the countryside, which would not have been possible on a large touring coach. Time to relax on the beach at Narbonne provided a light-hearted balance with more serious parts of the story!
Thank you for a marvelous holiday, which will be long remembered.
Dee (West Yorkshire) (2007 tour)
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Proposed Itinerary
Groups 2007 & 2009 in the Hostellerie de l'Eveche, (The Old Bishops Palace) gourmet restauran
Groups 2010 & 2011
On this epic adventure we will be visiting lands steeped in mystery and legend stretching back to Old Testament times. The South of France's Languedoc boasts a rich, diverse and fascinating history all set within some of the most beautiful and spectacular countryside anywhere. These lands were home to the mighty Visigoths, the mysterious Merovingian kings, the Knight Templar and the mystical sect of Catharism; who suffered most cruelly and bravely for their beliefs. More recently they were the home of Francois Berenger Sauniere, the priest of the tiny hill top hamlet of Rennes-le-Chateau, who’s intriguing story inspired a BBC documentary series, the World best seller 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' and the international block-buster novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’, which in turn was turned into a massively successful Hollywood Movie.
We will head for the Languedoc and Aude Valley and back to the time of the Knights Templar and the Cathars. In the lands of the Cathar 'Heretics' we will explore a variety of aspects of some of Europe's most intriguing history. We will visit Cathar and Knights Templar castles perched high upon mountain peaks, including the amazing Castle de Montsegur, the site of the final tragic massacre where the Cathars marched singing into the flames of their enemies.
Day
1
Neil will meet you at Carcassonne airport and take you to the Hostellerie
de l'Eveche, The Old Bishops Palace hotel, which will be our home for
the next 11 days. The hotel is located in the peaceful and serene Medieval
Spa town of Alet Le Bains, famous for its mineral waters, thermal springs
and as an historic religious centre of pilgrimage. Legend has it that
alchemists and cabbalists of medieval Europe once lived in Alet and the
Nostradamus house is to be found in the main square. Our stay will be
on a Dinner, Bed & breakfast basis, which means we will be taking
advantage of the gourmet cuisine of Christian Limouzy, owner and chef,
who graduated from the Ecole Hotelliere des Pyrenees in Toulouse and who
actively promotes the regional cuisine as well as family recipes. The
wines being proposed with the meals are exclusively from the region.
Day 2
The only place to begin an adventure of the lands of the Cathars is the
spectacular walled city of Carcassone. Le Cite is everyone's childhood
dream of a Medieval Citadel. You will have a free day to delve into the
Cathar and Templar history, as did Hitler's army who are said to have
searched town the town well for occult secrets.
Day 3
Today the mystery deepens as we head for the hilltop hamlet of Rennes
le Chateau, the home of the now infamous Berenger Sauniere and the centre
of the Divinci Code story; the Holy Bloodline, the Magdalene and some
intriguing sacred geometry. On the way we will call in at the Limoux Notre
Dam, a typical example of a church of the dark Madonna with related symbolism.
This day will be one to remember and Neil will set the scene over a coffee
in the Rennes-le-Chateau café.
Day 4
Continuing our journey into the Cathar country and the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau
we will visit the town of Rennes-les-Bains, where the church yard holds
a couple of interesting secrets. We will then head high into the hills
for the village of Causatoussa, where the plot gets deeper. Whilst on
the mountain we will visit the so called Camp Grand Capitelles; mysterious
Bee Hive type structures, which cover a whole hillside. There are many
theories about this unusual place but non which fully explain it, or are
their?
Day 5
A well earned rest day and an opportunity to explore the town of Alet-les-Bains,
including the ancient Abbey remains, the Nostradamus House with wonderful
esoteric carvings, the Medieval streets and buildings and of course the
thermal swimming and healing springs.
Day 6
Today we will be taking a ride along the breathtaking Gorge of Galimus,
taking in the amazing cave Hermitage of St Anthony, along the route. This
journey is a remarkable and memorable experience. We will also take in
a circulade town, which used to hold a Knights Templar Commandery, on
the way back to the hotel.
Day 7
A day in the mountains and vineyards of the Corbiere, visiting places
important to the Cathar story. Hear of the disastrous siege of Beziere
and visit the Beautiful town of Minerve.
Days 8 &
9
For the next two days we will be exploring the amazing Cathar Castles,
many perching high up on mountain peaks. We will end at the spectacular
Castle of Montsegur the place of the last stand of the Cathars and visit
the memorial to that tragic day. We will also have time in the ancient
and picturesque Cathar town of Mirepoix.
Day 10
Transfer back to Caracssonne airport for your flight home
All this and some of the most beautiful , spectacular & breathtaking landscape in the world and many more gems of the region.
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June 2012 - 10 Days £1,300
£500 non refundable deposit to secure a place please - £500 by 1st January 2012 - Balance by 1st May 2012 - Single Supplement £110
Includes - All transport from pick-up at Carcassonne airport, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (including wine), for 10 nights & many site entrance fees
Does not include - Air Fares and Insurance (please make arrangement for private travel insurance cover).