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| The Cavern of Lombrives – the Cathars’ Cathedral |
 Formed by an underground river, like all the other caves of the area, Lombrives had been prehistoric men’s dwelling. Later, we find there a tribe of Pyrenean Iberians, the Bedrykes. Their presence links Pyrene’s legend to that huge underground palace; she was king Bebryx’s daughter-in-law, victim of her unfortunate love for Hercules, the Tyrian. She gave her name to the Pyrenees.
The rocky halls show a multitude of calcareous concretions, stalactites and stalagmites. Mysterious symbols and engravings from all centuries cover their walls. We find there, as the imposing heart of the cavern, the ‘cathedral of the Cathars’.
In 1244, after Monségur’s fall, the cavern of Lombrives became the dwelling of a Cathar bishop, Amiel Aicard. This Perfect One had indeed received the order of leaving the besieged fortress during the night of its surrender in 1244 and bringing to Lombrives the ‘sacred treasure of the Cathars’.
The upper part of the cave saw the slow death of 510 Cathars, immured alive in 1328 on inquisitor Jacques Fournier’s order.
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