October 25 to 29, 2024
What “Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country” is about ….
Walking on the footsteps of Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country is to learn more about what is catharism. It is a religious movement in the medieval Christian West after the Gregorian reform. In brief, Catharism is another way of considering the reading of the Bible as well as a different Christianity from that advocated by Roman Catholicism of the 12th century.
Indeed, this dissident movement was in contradiction with the dogma of the Catholic Church which will consider it as a heresy.
Was Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country considered as the concubine of Christ ?
The answer to this question looks like a huge puzzle with many pieces missing. Also, this truth that we seek, we are, while waiting for new discoveries, condemned to guess it from only a few elements.
The study of the figure of Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country, to the extent that no Cathar text has reached us, seems doomed to failure from the outset. Apparently, because although we have no original Cathar text, we do, however, have the writings of their adversaries who led the Albigensian Crusade and directed the Inquisition. These texts are of great help to us.
This itinerary gives an immersive, unparalleled experience of the history of the Cathars, the Black Madonna, and the legacy of Mary Magdalene in this area.
We will highlight the path of Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country, in the South West of France. You will discover the life of the Cathars, close to the Gnostic communities of the early times of the Church. We will also address the cultural and artistic aspect by discovering the castles where courtly love developed thanks to the troubadours but also to the “trobareitz”, female troubadours.
Indeed, women, who at the time in Cathar society were the equal of men, played an important role during the Albigensian Crusade.
The program “Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country”
Friday, October 25 : Meeting at Carcassonne
The walled medieval city and UNESCO site of Carcassonne is the largest and best preserved medieval city in the world.
We will visit the Basilica St Nazaire sheltering some secrets and encoded messages. I will also tell the story of Dame Carcas, the 9th century warrior queen of the Saracens for whom the city is named.
Free time to explore and shop.
Saturday, October 26 : The Cathar’s sacred city of Minerve, beautiful and painful city on the path of the perfect Cathars.
Minerve appears around a bend in the middle of the plateau. Sumptuous and mineral perched on its rocky outcrop.
Visiting Minerve means retracing the steps of the Perfects. Indeed, its cobbled streets preserve the memory of their epic and their sacrifice. Although reputed to be impregnable, the village nevertheless fell into the hands of the soldiers of Pope Innocent III. For this reason, on July 22, 1210, 140 Perfects, refusing to renounce their faith, perished on the very first pyre of the Albigensian Crusade. On this occasion, to pay homage to this people, I will sing the Our Father in Occitan. I learned it from my father. It was the only prayer of the Cathars.
Sunday, October 27: …. Lastours , Limouzis caves – Fine amore and mystery.
First, the pursuit of the so called Cathar treasure leads us to the Cave of Limouzis. They are 39 km of galleries running over 7 levels, it is the largest cave in Europe. The cave was a refuge for the Cathar bishop Amiel Aicard after the fall of the castle of Montségur in 1244. Legend says that the Cathar treasure was hidden in the cave in 1244. The last Cathars took refuge there, then, were walled up there in 1328
Catharism, a women’s affair?
In the afternoon, we will drive to Lastours. The lords of Lastours are the heads of a very powerful family. Here, in Cabaret, they own land whose inexhaustible mineral resources provide them with a solid financial base. That is why their court is brilliant, frequented by troubadours. Believers, perfect men and perfect women, “the good Christians” as they call themselves, live in peace under their protection.
You will learn about French poetry and music, spread by male and female troubadours, practicing courtly love. Undoubtedly, the memory of the beautiful lady Na Lobba, the Wolf, is still alive.
Monday, October 28: …. Rennes les Bains, Limoux
Today, we’ll depart to Limoux to visit the very special church St Martin and decipher the messages encoded in its stained glass windows and pay tribute to the Black Madonna our Lady of Marceille.
Finally, we end our day under the sign of water and reconnect with the elements.
Creator of life, it springs, flows, sings in all its forms: thermal and hot waters, small spring, lakes and rivers, here water abounds!
After lunch, departure to Rennes les Bains. Here, the hot springs whisper their mantra over the water. Certainly because this area is full of energies. there is a reminiscence of Celtic/Druid history here. At the Seat of Isis and Magdalene spring, let yourself be carried away, the memories of these places invite you on an initiatory journey …
Tuesday, October 29: ….Bon voyage !
After breakfast, early morning, the tour ends as the group will be driven to Toulouse airport for your onward flights.
Travel dates :
You should arrive in Carcassonne on Friday, October 19th and return home from Toulouse Airport on Tuesday, October 25th in the afternoon.
Attention, for the quality of the individual support, number of participants limited to 6 persons, on a first to reserve basis.
(Program may be subject to minor modifications)
Highlights of “Mary Magdalene in the Cathar country” journey
Hot spring – Rennes les Bains