Chris Goes to Queribus

Like Montsegur, Queribus also claims to be the last seat of Cathar resistance. The difference is in semantics. Montsegur fell in 1249, and at that point, the crusade was over and the armed Cathar rebellion was at an end. Inquisitors moved in and the remaining Cathars went underground, practicing their religion in secret. The inquisitors followed them to these secret places and rooted them out. Queribus was the last stronghold that Cathars were found to be living the 'Cathar lifestyle'. It was taken in 1255 after a three week siege. However, Cathars continued to live on in ones and twos trying to convert people and spread the word of Catholic evils until they burned the last one at the stake in 1321. Since then, no one has been burned at the stake for being a Cathar, but you never know what will happen in the future...

Here is Queribus as viewed from the parking lot. It's a long hike up the mountain. Unlike Montsegur, there isn't any shade for this hike.

Here is the main entranceway, as viewed from inside. When a guy came knocking at the door (below), you could walk over to the balcony (above) and drop arrows, rocks, boiling oil, etc, on their head. I bet they didn't get a lot of salesmen or Jehovah's Witnesses!

Some walls.

It's easy to survey the countryside from the top. There was a Japanese tour group up here and they wanted me to take a picture for them. I pushed the button, but I'm not sure that the camera actually took the picture. If it didn't work, I'd like to publicly apologize to them now.

Another picture from halfway down the mountain.

The view from out the window. It was pretty dank inside.

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