Every 7 years, the very same day
when Jerusalem opened its doors to Saladin, the temple Commander
appeared on the platform of the castle of Valcabrère;
it called the knights, invited them to be linked with him for the
defence of the Holy City. It renewed 7 times this call while turning
toward the four cardinal points and a voice answered him: "the order is
destroyed, the knights perished, Jerusalem succumbed and no one will not fight
any more for defence of the Saint Tomb!" so, after having pushed
7 times a long cry of pain, the commander fell to
knees, requested and returned in its tomb.
From This castle
of Valcabrère, it remains the keep: a tower of 14 meters drawn
up on a rocky outcrop at the exit of the village, in direction of St
Bertrand de Comminges. The ivy which covered it a long time was
giving to him the name of Castet-Bert (Manor house-green): the green
castle.
The castle was
built in 1080 for the Viscount of Labarthe (of Neste), Sanche-Auriol.
This already powerful family was
related with the counts d' Aure. In 1080 the bishop of the city
was then Auger de Labarthe (1079-1083), Sanche-Auriol’ uncle.
The templars
had a House in Valcabrère,
undoubtedly until the abolition of the order. One knows in connection
with a criminal story that there was a leper-house in
Castet-Bert in 1333, installed in an old people's home of the
Temple. It is probable that this establishment depended
of Montsaunès where the legend of the phantom was found.
