Montségur

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Montségur
Montségur coat of arms
Montségur (France)
Montségur
region Occitania
Department Ariège
Arrondissement Pamiers
Canton Pays d'Olmes
Community association Pays d'Olmes
Coordinates 42 ° 52 ′  N , 1 ° 50 ′  E Coordinates: 42 ° 52 ′  N , 1 ° 50 ′  E
height 630-2,365 m
surface 37.16 km 2
Residents 119 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 3 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 09300
INSEE code 09211
Website www.montsegur.fr

The village of Montsegur
from the ruins of Montsegur seen from

Montségur ( Occitan Montsegur ) is a municipality with 119 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in France . It is located in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region .

geography

The town of Montségur is located at an average altitude of 850 meters on the southern flank of the Pog ( Occitan Poch) de Montségur, a 1,200 m high hilltop in the French Pyrenees .

history

As archaeological excavations revealed the first settlement of the mountain took place already at the time Neanderthal (80,000 v. Chr.). Traces of settlement from Roman times are also proven.

In the Middle Ages there was a fortified village (castrum) on the top of the Pog, which served as a refuge for the Cathar community of Languedoc during the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century . The castrum had, however, after a siege on 16 March 1244 royal army revealed what over 200 Cathars were burned. The castrum was then demolished and replaced in the late 13th century by the castle complex that can be seen today on the pog. Around the same time, today's village of the same name was created at the foot of Montségur.

Population development

year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2007 2016
Residents 237 167 143 131 124 117 108 125
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

Culture and sights

  • Montségur Castle
  • The Musée historique et archéologique shows exhibits on life in the castle and village in the Middle Ages.

Web links

Commons : Montségur  - collection of images, videos and audio files