A living bastide with it's fairs, markets, it's cultural and sporting life...
A bastide in the midst of beautiful countryside, varied and picturesque formed by the river Drot and it's tributarries...
'Aquesta franquessa fo dada als borgues e a las borguesas de Montsegur per la dona Helianors...
This franchise was given to the town and townspeople of Monségur...
Thus started the foundation charter agreed on 26 July 1265 by Eleanor of Povence, the wife of Henry III Plantagenet, King of England. Since the 13th century, Monségur kept to the strict plan of bastides organised around the square.
Robert Darniche Square
This square, 78 metres on each side was built on the largest part of the headland. With it's covered hall and shops under the arches, it allows you to wander around the shops protected from the weather. Recent renovation work has restored it's former proportions and levelled it out, making it an open, welcoming space.
The Iron Covered Market
This is a product of the 19th century 'Golden Age of Iron'. Replacing an earlier wooden structure, it was built in two phases: from 1862 to 1872 the peripheral galleries were constructed and it was capped off with the central skylight in 1897.
As the wording of the estimate prepared in 1866 emphasizes, the galleries were not intended for purely commercial purposes - they were meant to add playful, enjoyment and beauty dimensions, to 19th century urban planning.
In 1897 the plum market was at it's peak. Construction of the central area completely roofed over the market again, and also resulted in the square losing it's pleasure garden appearance.
Ever since, the market place has hosted not only the weekly Friday market, but also local speciality and flower festivals. It is regularly turned into a ballroom or restaurant and has been used for major cultural events including theatre and the famous '24h du Swing' jazz festival.
The Governor's Tower
This hexagonal tower houses a staircase set in front of the main building. It was built at the end of the 15th century. after the Hundred Years War, and is an example of late gothic style. Pilasters on either side of the door bear these strange inscriptions "brehim" and "ebrihim". Nobody knows their meaning.
The tympanum is decorated with a Tudor arch and at one of the angles, a bartizan rests on a corbel in the form of a griffin. A sign of nobility, the weathervane with which it was endowed, was taken off during the French Revolution. Recently, work has been carried out to restore the mullions and the leaded, blown glass windows.
