Carcassonne , located in the south of France, is the largest and most beautiful medieval citadel in Europe. In 1996 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its entire medieval complex. Its wall, its towers and fortifications make stepping on Carcassonne a journey into the past. It is estimated that approximately 5 million people visit each year. Why will it be?
What to see in Carcassonne?
In the Citadel and its inner part
The gate of Narbonne
The main door to the Citadel of Carcassonne, and the only one that allows entry, is that of Narbonne. It is considered the most beautiful of all, although Aude’s is also quite impressive. Normally the Aude is the one that marks the end of the visit and it is recommended to visit it during the sunset , when its beauty is even greater.
The Narbonne Gate has on its sides two large towers that were restored, like the entire wall, in the time of Viollet-le-Duc. Right in front of it is a copy of the search for Carcas, which was the Saracen princess who gave the city its name. The original bust is inside the castle.
It is worth stopping for a moment at this majestic gate and observing the double system of walls that completely surrounds the Citadel.
The walls
Everyone who visits Carcassonne loves to stroll between the ramparts. The first ones were built in Gallo-Roman times, when the city was born, but in medieval times the second defensive belt was built. So between the outer and inner walls a kind of walk was formed that allows you to go around the entire Citadel and get to know each of its 52 towers. It is a nice place to take pictures.
The Citadel
The Citadel is a medieval city that was the residence of the Trencavel viscounts, who were the lords of Carcassonne, and of several noble families. For this reason, mansions and palaces can still be seen today that, although they have been remodeled, still retain their medieval essence. There are several points of interest within the walled enclosure, such as the great and the small well , which served as defense in times of sieges, the Marcou square, the Castle square and the Saint Nazaire Basilica .
Carcassonne has become quite a tourist city, so there is no shortage of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops in the Citadel.
The castle
The castle is the great monument of Carcassonne, so its visit is practically essential. Admission is not free, prices are € 9 for adults and € 7 for children and groups. Our advice is that the ticket is bought in advance to avoid queues. There is an option to do the visit with a guide or an audio guide.
This castle was the residence of the Viscounts Trencavel , who were the lords of Carcassonne. Not much remains of the 12th century medieval castle, what is seen today is the restoration of Viollet-le-Duc . Many of its interior rooms can be visited, although, in general, they are quite minimalist.
Once the visit is over, you can access the Paseo de Ronda . From this walk you get wonderful views of all of Carcassonne and its surroundings. Here you can only access through the castle and after having paid the entrance to it.
Basilica of Saint Nazare
The Paseo de Ronda ends right in front of the Basilica of Saint Nazare, the most important church in the city and also the only one. Its construction began during the Romanesque period and ended in the Gothic period. For a time it was considered a cathedral but eventually it was considered a basilica.
On the outside of the Citadel
The canal of Midi
The Canal du Midi connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and is one of the most important engineering works of the 17th century. The importance of this navigable canal is so high that it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has a total of 241 kilometers and the best known section is the one that connects Marseillan with Toulouse, but in Carcassonne you can enjoy a beautiful walk . The tour lasts an hour and a half approximately, it is quite quiet and usually has a guide who explains a little about the history of the canal and its importance within the trade, among other information of interest.
What to do in Carcassonne?
Gastronomy
Try the cassoulet
Cassoulet is a typical Carcassonne dish and can be found in practically any restaurant in the city or even prepared to take away in stores. The dish is made up of white beans with confit duck and can be served with foie gras, cheeses and local wine. Inside the Citadel the price of this dish is usually a little higher, but around it it can be found at a more affordable price and of excellent quality.
Other dishes
In addition to cassoulet, in this beautiful medieval city you can taste some very typical dishes of the region, such as game stews . Also very typical of the area are the bouillabaise soup made of fish, the classic duck liver patés or the Languedoc snails , which are sautéed with ham and parsley.
Those with a sweet tooth cannot miss the briques and paves. And those who like good wine will have an extensive menu of reds, rosés and whites .
Walk at night
We recommend walking around the Citadel at night , when most of the tourists have disappeared, the shops have closed and everything is much quieter. It is just at this moment when the city is enveloped in a soft and dim light showing another image of it.
There are many bars that have a terrace. Sitting in one of them to rest and observe the surroundings can be a beautiful way to end the day, especially if it is located near the castle.
Family activities
Carcassonne is a city where you can travel with children without problems. Also, there are perfect activities for them.
About 7 km from the city is the Lac de la Cavayére . There the children and the not so young can bathe and play until they run out of strength. There is also a beach, beach bars and even a floating water park with slides.
Right next to this lake is the O2 Adventure Park , where children can walk through trees, zip line across a lake, and take various forest acrobatic routes. Obviously all of them are safe and do not pose any danger to children.
And if the children are very young, you can take the Petit Train , a little train that runs throughout the city.
There are also no problems in traveling with animals. This small French city is very dog friendly and there is no problem for dogs of any size roaming the Citadel. Although they do not accept them inside the castle or the basilica.
How to get?
The fastest way to get to Carcassonne from Spain is by car , although the cost can be somewhat high due to tolls and the cost of gasoline, which is higher in France.
It can also be reached by train from Madrid and Barcelona. The train from Madrid is not direct, it stops in Barcelona or Perpignan. From Barcelona there are direct ones.
Carcassonne has an airport but, although it could be quite comfortable, at the moment there are no direct flights from Spain .
