The Village of Minerve
In 1210 a group of Cathars sought refuge in the village after the massacre at Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade. The village was besieged by Simon de Montfort, Viscount of Albi and Carcassonne. The attacking army besieged the village for six weeks before it surrendered. Four catapults or trebuchets were set up around the ramparts, three to attack the village itself and the largest, known as Malvoisine or "bad neighbour", to destroy the town's well. With the town's only water supply cut off, the Commander of the 200-strong garrison, Viscount Guilhem of Minerve, gave in and negotiated a surrender in order to have the villagers and himself spared from death. However, 180 Cathars refused to give up their faith and convert, being burned to death at the stake on 22 July.
| Région: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Département: | Hérault |
| Commune: | Minerve |
| Photographer: | Malcolm Reynard - personal website |
