The stunning medieval village of Minerve, is located in between Beziers and Carcassonne in the old Languedoc region in the South of France. Minerve, is one of the most beautiful villages in the Languedoc. Dating back to the 10th Century, this former Cathar stronghold, is perched on the edge of a lovely gorge. The best views of Minerve and the gorge itself can be gained from the bridge over the River Cesse.

The beauty of Minerve today, however, hides its turbulent past. This region of Languedoc was fertile ground for the spread of the Cathar religion in the 12th Century. The Cathars were against the mainstream Catholic church based in Rome and they believed in two Gods, one good, who created people's Spirit; and one evil, who created the physical world and sought to corrupt people into sin through material possessions and wealth. They believed in Jesus Christ, but they rejected his reincarnation and they certainly didn't believe that Priests were the embodiment of Christ. By the early 13th Century, Catharism had spread into Italy and parts of Germany. Which obviously was a bit of an issue for the Catholic church.

It is estimated that almost 500,000 people in the Languedoc region had converted to Catharism by the turn of the Twelfth century. Concerned by the rapid growth of the Cathar movement, Pope Innocent III, declared the Cathars to be heretics and non-believers. Pope Innocent convinced King Philip II of France to launch a Crusade against the Cathars in the South of France, under the leadership of Simon de Montfort and the Pope's representative, Arnaud Amalric, the Abbot of Citeaux.

When the crusading troops arrived in the Languedoc in 1209, the Cathars stood defiant in Minerve and endured a long and ultimately bloody siege at the hands of Simon de Montfort.

Minerve, Cathar village in Languedoc

Simon de Montfort had previously laid siege to the town of Beziers, which had a strong community of Cathars. In Beziers, on 22 July 1209, an estimated 7,000 people were massacred, with many put to death in and around Beziers' cathedral. In August of 1209, de Montfort carried on to Carcassonne, where after a short 2 week siege, the town surrendered without bloodshed (although large numbers of the town's inhabitants were imprisoned.

A number of Cathars had managed to escape the massacre in Beziers and sought refuge in Minerve. The following year, Simon de Montfort's troops arrived and commenced a 6 week siege of the village

The Siege of Minervois

Minerve was well positioned to withstand attack. Not only did it have its own geographic location to protect itself, but it was also ringed by two outer walls. Simon de Montfort positioned 4 catapults around the village to break the walls and destroy the town gates. Inside the fortress village, Viscount Guilhem of Minerve had only 200 men of his garrison at his disposal - far inferior to the numbers of de Montfort's troops.

Eventually, after holding out for a number of weeks, he negotiated the town's surrender, saving his troops and some of the villagers. However, what he couldn't protect was the 140 Cathar "Parfaits" (or holy men) who were burnt at the stake, because they refused to deny their faith. The execution was help on 22 July 2010, exactly a year to the day that the population of Beziers had been massacred.

Today, there is very little left of the fortress, except for a single slender octagonal tower. Next to tourist office in Minerve, there is a street called the rue des Martyrs, along which it is thought the 140 Cathar Parfaits walked on their way to the stake. There is also a monument to the Cathars in Minerve on the edge of the village, called the Stèle de Minerve, which was erected in 1982

Visit Minerve South France

The village of Minerve is a charming maze of narrow alleys and cobbled streets, topped by a simple 12th century church. In addition to the Cathar history in Minerve, the village was also was a base for the Knights Templers and one of the houses on rue des Martyrs belonged to the Templiers and there is also a stone archway near the bottom of the street which features the Maltese Cross belonging to the Order of Templers.

Minerve is officially classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, of which there are currently 160 such villages in France. The classification requires the villages to promote environmentally friendly tourism (the village of Minerve is a car-free zone) and to promote both the cultural heritage and the ongoing economic vitality of the village. In the centre of Minerve, there are 3-4 restaurants (Relais Chantovent, Aux 2 rivières and Les p'tits secrets gourmands de Galinette), a well-respected winery (the Chateau Minerve), numerous workshops for potters and artists, as well as a number of shops, cafes and ice cream shops.

The village of Minerve is perched on a rocky outcrop, bordered by two river gorges (the Cesse and Brian gorges). Although in the height of summer these rivers often run dry, you can during late Spring and Autumn find beautiful pools of water to swim in. Surrounding Minerve, you will find planty of vineyards and the area is well-known for its wine (especially the wines from Domaine Vordy and Chateau Minerve).

But the real pleasure of Minerve, is just taking your time and wander along the ancient streets, grabbing a coffee or a cool beer and just taking in the scenery. It is quite something to just stop and think how many people have walked along these same streets over the last 10 centuries and saw the same views.

Accommodation near to Minerve

The area surrounding Minerve is a beautiful part of France, full of excellent vineyards and dramatic scenery. If you are interested in visiting Minerve or possibly staying nearby, we have a number of rental properties and accommodation options.

Félines-Minervois 2 bed holiday house for rent with private pool in South France

This modern eco house is located close to Minerve in South France. This holiday property comes with 2 bedrooms, a private swimming pool and a large wooden terrace with impressive views towards the Pyrenees. The house is surrounded by some beautiful walks and you will never tire of the views from the terrace towards the snow-capped Pyrenees 80kms in the distance. The nearby village of Rieux-Minervois has a good range of shops, supermarkets and facilities (including a newly built swimming pool). A weekly street market in Olonzac is only 15 mins by car. Carcasonne and Narbonne can each be reached in 40 mins drive and the Mediterranean coast is 50 mins.

Rental prices range from €1150 to €1500 per week

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Maison du Bijou - holiday home with private pool in South France

Maison du Bijou is located amongst the vineyards of the Minervois wine region of Southern France. This charming holiday home has its own private pool, walled garden and private parking. This spacious holiday home in Southern France comes with 4 bedrooms and can comfortable accommodate 8 people.

The holiday home is decorated in a traditional French boutique style, with original artwork adorning the walls. Located in the idyllic village of Gimois, just a short drive from Minerve, Maison du Bijou offers a spectacular location for exploring the region and sampling the fabulous wines and French cuisine.

Rental prices range from €1850 to €2250 per week

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Maison d’étés Gite South France with pool

This is a restored 18th century country house based in the village of Babio, (a few Minutes drive from Minerve) with outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. The gite comes with a private swimming pool, sun terrace, summer kitchen and sleeps up to 6 people in 3 bedrooms.

You will simply never tire of the view from the pool terrace over the local vineyards to the hills beyond.

The village of La Caunette, a few minutes drive or cycle ride through vineyard lined country roads, has an award winning restaurant and village bar. The surrounding villages of Minerve, Aigne and Aigues Vives have quality restaurants and food stores.

July/August: €1,400 per week

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Related articles

If you are a history buff, then there is plenty to see and visit in this beautiful corner of France:

• The Cathars in Languedoc - learn about the fascinating history of the Cathars and their beliefs
• Discover the history of Carcassonne Castle nearby to Minerve - the second most visited historical monument in France
• The Canal du Midi is the quintessential image of the South of France and its route flows right past Minerve
• Discover all the rich and wonderful Historical sites in the Languedoc region of France