I: A castle called Montsegur Photo

Photographer’s Note

I: A castle called Montsegur

Today the first entry in a little series of the ending of the Cathars. A people exterminated on the initiative of the Pope as their faith was not adopted to the Catholic Church.

I had no knowledge of this ‘ethnic’ cleansing before my days down in Langedouc Rousillon. To learn how half a million people was to be pursued by the Pope in alliance with the king of France has engaged me. Maybe the Pope already at 1200 AC launched ideas others adopted later on, as with the Holocaust in WWII as the ethnic wars of former Yugoslavia.

To retrace the history of Montesegur, one needs to go back to 1208 when Pierre de Castelnau, the papal legate, was killed near Arles. Pope Innocent III waged a holy war against the Cathars to eliminate the heretics. The war, known as the Albegisian Crusade covered two particular episodes:

In 1209 when the Crusaders slaughtered some 20.000 victims at Bezieres, spilling much blood and bringing fire to Occitania.

Then some 30 years later at the night of May 28th 1242 a group of ‘faydits’ from Montsegur killed 11 church inquiry members travelling through Avigonet. This event sounded the final death-knell for Catharism.

Here at Montsegur more than 220 Cathars were to be burned at the stake March 16th. 1244.

More info later in this series

This photo displays the placement of the castle at top of this rocky peak at alt. 1216m. Shot from the road crossing this mountain pass.

Ref: The Green Guide Langedoc Roussillon and the Montesegur information sheet

Emile, ChrisJ, bazal, bertolucci, carper, jhm, nwoehnl, papagolf21, Gregtom, huynt, richtersl, mortijo, magiqa ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Emile (20202) 2005-12-05 8:58

Hola Jack.
Very well captured, nice colours and contrasts. Very good composition. Good POV and DOF. Love the sharp blue sky.
Well done.

ChrisJ (72276) 2005-12-05 9:06

Hi Jack

I like the superb blue sky. The snow accentuates the graphism Also good is the color contrast of red vs blue. Well done!

bazal (7898) 2005-12-05 9:13

Hi Jack. I had never seen Montsegur under the snow before your picture ! Great POV and well built composition. Great colors and contrast. Thanks for sharing !

jasmis (53028) 2005-12-05 10:04

Well, I have visited this castle in summer and it was rather difficult to take a photo. But I can see that thin snow add some kind of 3D. Excelent.

Didi (37579) 2005-12-05 12:59

Bonjour Jack
Voici une vue du château de Montségur photographiée l'été dernier, nous pouvons comparer à des saisons différentes.
J'apprécie votre composition sous la neige.
Le POV est très intéressant.

Hello Jack
Her is a view of Montsegur castle photographed last summer, we can compare between the differents seasons.
I appreciate your composition under snow. The POV is very interesting.

bertolucci (12024) 2005-12-05 13:20

Interesting capture Jack, showing us the start and austere surroundings of this famous and fateful castle. Very nicely photographed and a fascinating theme.
Have a nice week,
Bert

carper (68400) 2005-12-05 13:25

Yes indeed Jack when I take a good lok I see indeed a castle. a very nice view you took here,the colours are good and I think you can made a crop here, but thats personal. Good job
gr, jaap

jhm (86546) 2005-12-05 13:38

Hi Jack,
The contrast between he white snow on foreground against the mountain with the church on top give a excellent composition, this anything lovely against the steel blue sky.
Best regards,
John.

nwoehnl (120) 2005-12-05 13:56

Good framing work on this photo, Jack, with a well included small portion of the road at the bottom, and a clear compositional anchor offered by the castle atop the hill. Nice contrasts in the early-winter setting, and nice deep hues of blue found in the sky.

papagolf21 (58731) 2005-12-05 14:40

Bonsoir Jack,
C'est toujours impressionnant de voir ce château cathare perché sur cet éperon rocheux, il semble invincible et ressemble à un nid d'aigle.
La neige s'est installée, merci de nous faire parvenir une photographie aussi fraîche (3.12.2005). La neige est présente, mais le ciel bleu règne en maître.
Amitiés.
Philippe

DINOZOR (7113) 2005-12-05 15:17

hello jack, sorry I speak french my english is too bad.
Bravo et merci de nous montrer Montsegur sous les premières neiges ariégeoises. Il y a un reel contraste de couleur avec celles de l'été visibles sur la photo de Didi. Mais le ciel valorise l'ensemble. Un petit regret mais c'est du detail,la portion de route visible au bas de l'image aurait pu etre supprimée par un leger recadrage.

Gregtom (7119) 2005-12-05 17:00

Hello, Jack!
Very sharp and clear image, I like the smooth tones of the sky and strong contrast between the blues and whites of snow on the ground. Interesting place and perfect note. Thanks for sharing!
regards,
Greg

sergecross (3438) 2005-12-05 17:52

Jack, nice tones of the sky and the snow looks very well. I like the road and the right side and the frame selected
Congratulations!
Sergio

huynt (5077) 2005-12-06 2:03

Hi Jack
A nice mountainscape with snow. Well composition. Thanks

richtersl (3546) 2005-12-06 11:33

Great note, Jack!

Did you use a polarizer for this photo? The blue color of the sky is spectacular.

jemaflor (41393) 2005-12-11 5:57

Hi Jack,
Nice POV, perfect light and i like the contrast between the dark part and the snow. Well framed.

mumek (17572) 2005-12-17 16:30

Good afternoon Jack!
Very well composed and captured scenery. Beutiful view at the castle in the top of the hill.Lovely colors and contrast.The note is very interesting and informative.
regards
ziggy

magiqa (1278) 2005-12-17 17:44

Another very good picture of this fascinating but tragic place. Have you visited the other Cathar fortresses, too?