Minerve was once a camp for the 10th Roman Legion. In the year 1210 during the crusade against the Cathars, Simon de Montfort ordered the destruction of the town. Minerve was said to be impregnable, but he set up bird traps and catapults around the town. Eventually the walkway to the towns water suply was destroyed and the people of Minerve lasted five weeks in the mid summer heat. 140 Cathars refused to recant their faith and on the 22nd July 1210 threw themselves onto the flames of a pyre. This was to be the first collective stake of the beginning of the crusade.
Just the north butress remains of the castle as Louis 13th had it dismantled in the 17th century. It was a hideout for bandits en route to Saint Pons de Thomieres!
The village today is home to local artists and their studios, a rather good book shop with tea room, a couple of gift shops and a selection of restaurants. Of course you will also find somewhere to buy the local Minervois wine and 2 museums, along with the Tourist Information. Take a stroll down the medieval Rue des Martyrs, at one end you will find a house rumoured to be the House of the Templars.
The Dove of Light is the work of sculptor Jean-Luc Severac, and is in memory of the Cathars.
You can pick up a map from the Tourist Info office featuring 2 walks starting at Minerve. During the summer months walk along the bed of the river Cesse, where you can see the natural bridges created by the rivers underground flow.
Recommended restaurant La Table des Troubadours
Did you know? a 'malvoisine' means bad neighbour, the type of birdtrap used by Simon de Montforts men. You can see a reconstruction of it outside the village, opposite the well
For further information see the Minerve tourist office web site
For more photos see my blog
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