CRUSADES AND FIRES
Minerve, located at the confluence of two rivers the Cesse, and the Brian, appears almost suspended between deep gorges and rocky walls. Its geographic position has always rendered it strategically important; the Romans in fact established a colony of legionaries there.
In 1006 the viscounts of Carcassonne founded the House of Minerve, for the protection of their northerly territories.In 1006 the viscounts of Carcassonne founded the House of Minerve, for the protection of their northerly territories.Catharist heresy spread through the Languedoc in the 12th century, and at the time of the Crusade against the Albigensians, Minerve housed a large number of heretics. Simon de Montfort, had it in his sights, after conquering Carcassonne. It came under siege in 1210, and Minerve resisted for seven weeks. However it was thirst which broke them, as the result of the destruction of the large water tanks by a powerful catapult known as the Malvoisine, of which a reconstruction exists today based on original plans. Following the surrender of the town, the Crusaders enacted their first great fire of their expedition, in which 140 heretics died in the flames.
A royal garrison was subsequently set up in Minerve, until 1636, when Louis XIII had the town bastions destroyed.

THE MOST ANCIENT ALTAR IN FRANCE
The medieval remains consist in the imposing ruins of the hexagonal tower and interesting parts of the walls dating back to the 12th-13th century, with crenellations and covered passages. There are several fine buildings along the ancient streets, one of which is the house “of the Knights of the Temple”.
Of particular interest is also the Romanesque church (11th-12th century) featuring a splendid altar dated 457 which was blessed by the bishop of Narbonne, Rusticus. The most ancient example of this kind of article ever found in France.
The deep gorges of the Cesse, also feature two spectacularly curious geological features: two natural bridges created as the result of water erosion. With a respective length of 100 and 250 metres they provide an exceptional passage.

A DOVE IN FLIGHT
Minerve is certainly dramatic in aspect, its imposing outline dominating the arid landscape of “garrigue” and rock, which still retains remains of its tragic past. In front of the church there is a stele, to remind us of the 140 Catharist “prefects”, both men and women who preferred to die amongst the flames than to renounce their faith. The stele is in the form of a dove, climbing in flight, just as the spirit of those pacific victims of intolerance.These are the tragic words of William of Tudèle who chronicled the Crusade.
“The dirty race of heretics are burnt in the flames,with the female heretics shouting amidst the fire.The bodies are then thrown into the mud, toEnsure that such dirt does not pollute the airFor us, foreign people”.