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Fanjeaux, a Medieval Town in the Pays Cathare
With an altitude of 360 metres, the characteristic silhouette of this little village can be seen from afar.
A former Gallo-Roman oppidum, then a medieval castrum, 3,000 inhabitants once lived within its fortifications. A poet such as Peire Vidal sang the praises of his now-defunct castle in the 12th century:
Que’m ressembla paradis, Qu’amors e jois s’i enclau
(which seems Paradise to me; for love and joy are cloistered therein)
Fanjeaux can be discovered on foot, slowly, like a good book.
The first page stands out. We are charmed by its old half-timbered and stone façades, then we are whisked away to the heart of its little alleys and squares. We settle amidst the sculpted scenes that punctuate the landscape… Finally, in the midst of all this stone and metal, we discover enchanted panoramas or tumultuous hills that rival with the Lauragais furrow, where the (not so) distant Canal du Midi meanders.
While few remnants of medieval times can tell you the exciting and eventful history of this small Occitan town, Loïc Tellier’s sculpted works take you to the heart of history. With the help of the Au Cœur des Collines Cathares (In the heart of the Cathar Hills) mobile app, available free of charge on the iOS and Android app stores, you will be able to listen to the historical dialogues that, from episode to episode, reveal the Great History: the development of Catharism, the birth of the Dominican Order, the Albigensian Crusade… Children will not be outdone with the game booklet Fanjeaux et le Mystérieux Sortilège (Fanjeaux and the Mysterious Spell)
Stroll…
During your stroll, you may have the opportunity to meet a Dominican friar or nun going to the former monastery of the Dominicans, also known as the House of Saint Dominic, or even the monastery of Prouille, the site of the foundation of the first community of nuns converted by Dominic de Guzman in the 13th century.
These places full of history welcome you – let yourself be guided!
USEFUL INFORMATION
Rental of audioguides & Fanjeaux and the Mysterious Spell children’s game booklet:
Rental of audioguides: €4/person
Fanjeaux and the Mysterious Spell children’s game booklet: €3/person
Guided tour for groups
(15 people minimum): €5/person
Maps and informations at the tourist office
Opening period, visiting times:
Maison dite de Saint Dominique (House of Saint Dominic)
Sur demande :
+33 (0)4 68 24 69 32.
Former monastery of the Dominicans:
Tous les jours 10h00-12h00 et 15h00-18h00.
Parish church
Tous les jours 15h00-18h00.
Starting point for hikes in front of the Tourist Office Maps available at the Tourist Office
Discover the 21 other exceptional sites in the Pays Cathare:
www.payscathare.org
The Pays Cathare appswww.payscathare.org/les-applis