Summer Day Walk in the Pyrenees

Ariege in the Pyrenees is a fascinating wild region and during the summer we offer themed day and half day walks for our guests at chezarran

About the walks – Day or Weekend options

• Cathar culture and monuments
• Escape to Spain or Andorra – A full day to cross the border into Spain or Andorra, the choice is yours
• Mountain Orris and Lakes
• Climb a 2000m or 3000m peak

Private group from £150.

About Cathars

The Occitan region endured sieges, massacres and the Inquisition during the bloody Albigensian crusade in the 12th and 13th centuries and Ariège was spared little of it. The spiritual movement called Catharism developed in reaction to the corruption and disarray of the Church at that time. In stark contrast to the worldly, dissolute clergy of the era, the Cathars followed a rigorous interpretation of the gospels, with the most pious of the believers, called “Perfects”, taking vows of poverty and celibacy and refusing to eat meat. It was their belief in dualism, however, that outraged the Church: according to the cathars, Satan had created the material world, with its pestilence, violence and hate, not God. Paradise could be gained after death only by rejecting worldly attachments during one’s life.

About Escape routes

See http://www.spa-treks.com/en_GB/activity/40122/chemin-de-la-liberte-freedom-trail-6-day-trek

Freedom Trail over Port de Salau – Long weekend