2. The 6th century BC: They built the « oppidum de carcaso »,on the commercial route between the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Gallo-romans era : The Cite became an urbain centre. In the 5th Century, the gallo-romans sheltered themselves from the barbarian attacks. Feudal era: The Visigoths reinforced the wall, the Moors and the Franks. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the dynasty of the Trencavel reinforced it too.

3. Royal era: After the Albigensian Crusade, the city became a royal fortress to defend the border between France and Spain. A second wall is erected. The contemporary era: In the 19th Century, the city is inhabited. Viollet- le-Duc restorated the city in 1853. Today, the city has hundred residents and was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage in 1997.

4. The Cathar knights: In the second half of the 11 th Century, the Church inposed religious moral and rules for the code of Chivalry : the protection of very poor people, orphans and widows. They should be loyal, fidel and brave. They did a lot of banquets, hunting, music during the prosperious era. But, they could wage war too.

5. The arms of knights: The knights of the city (Carcaso) used a lot of different arms : they had the traditionnal two-handed swords, crossbows or bows. They used the axes, the clubs and spears. These arms were sometimes difficult to handle. axe crossbow club sword bow spears

6. How did the knights defend themselves? The knights always had their armor to fight : their armor could weigh up to 50 kg. Every armor was made of iron. Their shield blocked the attacks of their enemies. armor shield Julien and Mohammed

7. The quiz: When was the « oppidum de carcaso » built? 5th century BC: 8th century BC: 6th century BC: Who reinforced the city during 11th to 12th century? the dinasty of the Trencavel the gallo-romans The Visigoths Who restorated the city in 1853? le-Duc-Viollet Viollet-le-Duc Duc-le-Viollet

8. What were the traditional arms of Cathar knights? sword and bow spears and shield axe and club An armor of knight can weigh up to: 20kg 80kg 50kg What a knight should be? selfish, pessimistic and bad loyal, brave and fidel lazy, kind and coward