At the start of the 13thC a religious movement claiming authentic succession from the early apostles of Jesus had become the popular church of a majority of the inhabitants of the lands of Languedoc, stretching from the Garonne to the Rhone.  Its ministers, men and women equally, were known as ‘Les Bonshommes’ or ‘Bonnesfemmes’ – later called the Cathars, ‘the pure ones’.    By the end of the century after a bloodthirsty Crusade and cruel Inquisition launched by the Popes, and probably a million dead, this religion had all but dissapeared.

A contemporary prophesy said that it would rise again in 700 years – and in fact since the mid 20thC there has been a growing interest in this inspired and enigmatic movement, much research and writing, and an ‘adoption’ of the name Cathar by the Aude Tourist Board.

There is little left to see as they built no churches, organising religious houses in towns and villages, and later taking refuge in several of the high Château of the area, which although rebuilt after the crusading wars, remain as moving monuments, and also into the many caves in more hidden places.

The Cathars were a pacific, non dogmatic people dedicated to healing and social works, and especially to their direct connection into the spirit world. The movement attracted both Lord and peasant and was part of a great flowering of freedom of thought and understanding which also nourished the Toubadours. A ‘Church of Love’ and the ‘Minstrels of Love’.

Association Les Bonshommes tours the sights, but also explores the history and the mystery of this movement.   In talks and meditations we will invoke the vision that inspired the faithfull to fear no death, even burning, seeing the light on the other side.

See the flyer for the 2019 tour and workshop.