Esclarmonde, whose name means 'the light of the world', was the high priestess of the Cathars and helped revitalize the castle back in the 13th century. Walk along her path up to the chateau and learn the history of the three Esclarmondes who are connected to the castle of Montsegur. Esclarmonde de Foix, the high priestess, Esclarmonde d'Alion, her niece and namesake, who fought in man's armour and lit the night beacons and Esclarmonde de Pereille, who ultimately lost her young life in the bonfires of the crusading armies.

Walk the ramparts they walked, take in the views that inspired them everyday, learn what made these women so heroic and learn what part they played in keeping the magic at Montsegur alive.

After spending some time at the castle we can hike down to the older sections of the pog and examine some of the actual ballista fire (spherical stone ammunition often used with a trebuchet) that still lingers on the mountain. Visit the 'place between two rocks', which in the old texts is where the Cathar's came to spend their final days. It is a very powerful spot and one that is easily missed as it is not on any map.

The last part is the walk down, with a stop to the memorial of the great Southern poet and writer Maurice Magre, whose powerful retellings of the Albigensian Crusade show his intimate connection to the past and his intense love of the land they call Occitania.