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Why an exhibition of Occitan Catharism in Mazamet?
Catharism, dissident religion of the Christian faith, considered to be a heresy by the all-powerful Catholic Church, was condemned, and its adepts were persecuted. The Cathars were obliged to flee into remote areas and found refuge in the Montagne Noire : at the edge of the Aude Cathar Country.
The Tarn side of this mountainous massif constituted a place of refuge and resistance for this religion. Hautpoul, the historic birthplace of Mazamet, ancient castrum (fortified village) perched on a rocky outcrop, served as a retreat during the period of the Inquisition. It was also one of the places of residence of the Cathar Archbishop of the diocese of Albi in the 13th century. This Medieval village is one of the rare vestiges of the Cathar time to be situated on the Tarn side of the Montagne Noire...
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Specialities
The Fuzier Home is a beautiful dwelling dating from the end of the 19th century, bought in the 1980s by the town of Mazamet, to make it into a cultural and tourism centre open to the public.
In 2000, to safeguard the communal heritage, a planning project was launched to transform the Fuzier Home into the Remembrance House, central point for tourism promotion and the enhancement of the historic heritage of the town.
The centre houses:
• on the ground floor, the Tourism Office as well as two rooms which have been refurbished in the 19th century style, in order to recreate the ambience of this grand Bourgeois home and to situate it in its context of the local history of the fellmongering activity.
• And on the 1st floor, since 15 May 2005, the permanent exhibition « Occitan Catharism, in Remembrance »
Language(s):
 
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Opening Musée du Catharisme - Maison des Mémoires de Mazamet:
- February, March and 2 November to 16 December
- Wednesday - Saturday
10.00 to 12.00 and from
14:00 to 17:00
- April, May, September and October
- (wednesday to Sunday) 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14:00 to 17:00
- July and August
- Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14:00 to 18:00
- Sunday
and (week-ends and
public holidays) 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14:30 to 18:30
- Final visit 30 minutes prior to closing time
Equipments and Services: |
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* Parking
* Shop
* Pets allowed
* Library |
* Groups accepted
* Individual guided tours
* Group guided tours
* Disabled reception |
Mazamet - Lac des Montagnès
Hautpoul, village médiéval
Maison du Bois et du Jouet
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Randonnée
La Rivière de la Dure |
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 Caudebronde is situated in southern France in the Aude department of Languedoc. In 2008 Aude was voted in the French press as the most desirable department in which to live. The village is in a gorge on the banks of the River Dure beneath the main N118 Route de Mazamet and the departmental D62 road runs through the village but is hardly ever used. It is almost equidistant between Carcassonne and Mazamet, each being about 23km distant, or a 25-minute drive away. The village lies at around 550m elevation on the southern slopes of the Montagne Noire, a much ignored area to the north of Carcassonne and the precursor to the Massif Central. The village has been described as one of the prettiest in the region. The surrounding area is a hillwalker's paradise and a very popular region for cyclists.
The territory of Caudebronde had ever many slate quarries - the Lauzières. Slate is used on a large scale for roofing, in that it is strong and has thermal properties (protection against summer heat and the cold of the mountains), and the use of slate is very practical. Still a few "Lauzeurs" practice this craft which is often taught from father to son ... (The Lauzeron is an employee at the quarry. To edit masses large plates, delicate parts slate of several centimeters thick. Unfortunately, a technique which is deteriorating with time!
Caudebronde, discrete...by its eccentric position of the road network, and yet so close. It remains a little secret village that everyone will make fun of well maintained alleys, beautiful landscaped gardens, a dominant bell tower and in first place the river la Dure. Here everything is in peaceful rest...
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Randonnée
Le Mont Sarrat |
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This walk will introduce you to the Pas de Mont Sarrat where remarkable traces of cart wheels are printed in limestone. At the time this Roman road was used for routing Pradelles ice packs to the plain.
At the Montagne Noire are many different walks, it is important to carry a compass, water, some food and tissues, and wear good walking shoes, a hat or cap and perhaps even carry a good walking stick. This is rough nature. There is no horeca, or toilets or even benches. These walks go over ancient paths, perhaps even millennia old, because also in prehistory, men travelled on these paths through the mountains.
Apart from nature, also history is an important goal for many people's holiday. And apart from nature and history, the mountains also have several beautiful lakes offering refreshment on a hot day. One of these lakes is Lac Birotos in Pradelles-Cabardès, with a nice little beach and clear water...
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In-between the Atlantic and Mediterranean South, at the foot of the Montagne Noire, Mazamet still displays the imprint of its industrial inheritance. Today, the city is focusing on green tourism, and yet the years of the prestigious XIXth century wool processing industry are not to be forgotten. The elegant mansions are still there to remind us of these privileged times…Mazamet, the story of a successful redeployment. The notoriety of Mazamet started with the quality of its fabric in the XVIIIth century. It quickly developed in the XIXth century into the world centre of the innovative wool processing industry, soon paired with tawery and leather work. Today, our urban trails will take you round the history of the industrial development of the city and reveal remarkably elegant mansions, the landmarks of those privileged times. Cathars, a historical experience... Meet them at the Maison de la Mémoire: sound, video displays and reconstructions of peasants’ homes to get a better understanding of the cathars’ daily life as they were persecuted by Crusaders and Inquisitors. Do you know that Jean-Louis Etienne ( a French explorer) and Laurent Jalabert ( a famous racing cyclist) were born here. So if you love exploring or dream of sporting achievements, that’s the place! In the surroundings, you will be given the opportunity to to give it all : hiking, bike-riding, horse-riding, car rallies, water sports at the Lac de Montanès, exploring fauna and flora…What do you fancy?
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The city of Castres lies in the south-west of the Tarn department in the Midi-Pyrénées. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery, the Tarn countryside being home to many lovely chateaux, with glorious sunflower-filled fields providing a perfect backdrop for these elegant houses of days gone by. Castres is built on the River Agout, and the old houses on either side lean their upper stories out over the water as though reaching out to the opposite bank. These were once the homes of the weavers and the dyers, and this connection with the textile industry is still important to Castres today. Castres is full of history, and there are reminders of its past very much in evidence in the modern city. The city was founded around a Benedictine Abbey, but also existed in Roman times as Castroum. Monuments worth seeing are the Church of Saint Benoit, the fountain and the statue in the Place Jean Jaurès, the town hall which lies in the old Bishop’s palace, and the Quay of the Jacobains, viewed from the Pont Neuf. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Goya Museum, which houses the largest collection of Spanish art in France. Castres is an excellent place to be if you are one of the many people who love the buzz and colour of French markets. The town has two daily markets, with fresh produce on offer in the main square, and a bric-a-brac or flea market in the Place Albanique. On Saturdays the general market stretches down the riverside, making a most picturesque place to shop!...
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Le golf de Mazamet
La Barouge |
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 18-Holes.
With its 18 holes (par 70 - 5635 meter - 1991 by Philippe Durand. Many of the golf courses in Southern France are quite new (developed in the last 10 years or so) this course is one which shows maturity. Located in a beautiful valley with interesting views and challenging holes. Well worth a visit, a popular and enjoyable course, especially the last hole that requires you to lay-up before your final approach across a local road - beware of cars crossing fairway! Situated at the foot of the Montagne Noir in the south Tarn area, this course is the oldest in the "Département" and one of the most beautiful in the region. It is crossed by 2 rivers "Le Thoré" & "l’Issalès" and features numerous trees...
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Defy the void on La Passerelle de Mazamet in
Hautpoul and stroll in this hilltop village. Want strong emotions? Climb to
Hautpoul and take the metal footbridge suspended 70 meters above the valley of
Arnette. Do you feel as she sways gently under your feet? Want a return in time?
Stroll through the medieval streets where still floats the memory of the
Cathars. Hautpoul is high and it gives goose bumps. At 70 meters above the ground, do not be dizzy. But alone, the exceptional view of the valley of the Arnette is worth taking his courage in both hands. By taking the footbridge that leads to Hautpoul, you will not only be spotted by the beauty of the landscape but in addition, you will go to discover a remarkable historical heritage.
Unique in Occitania, La Passerelle de Mazamet is a 140-meter-long aerial path that crosses the Arnette Gorge at 70 meters high...
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Albi is a thriving city which manages to combine past
glory and present youth, with a truly dynamic economy. Over 600,000 tourists
visit Albi every year. The town is famous for its Toulouse-Lautrec museum, with
a unique collection of paintings and prints by the artist, as well as St Cecilia
Cathedral, a masterpiece of Mediterranean Gothic architecture, its old
neighborhoods with charming brick houses, not to mention two illustrious
navigators amongst its native sons, La Pérouse and Rochegude. Albi also strives
to improve life for its inhabitants : renovating the suburbs, reviving the city
center. The city aims to get its Episcopal city listed as a Unesco World
heritage Site. Arts, sports, education… Diversity is the hallmark of Albi the «
erudite and audacious », making it even more of a city on the move, but where
the living is easy...
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