Cité de Carcassonne

Background

The Cité de Carcassonne stands on a hill on the right bank of the River Aude in Carcassonne, in the Aude department of France, a medieval fortified town. About 3 km of double walls are punctuated by 52 towers; the Château Comtal, built in the early 12th century, was the seat of the Viscounts of Carcassonne, and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire was begun in 1096. The site began as a Gaulish settlement; in the 3rd century the Romans turned it into a fortified town, and the Visigoths rebuilt the walls in the 5th and 6th centuries. After the crusaders besieged the city in 1209 during the Albigensian Crusade, it changed hands several times and became a royal domain from 1226. A further ring of walls was then added outside the Roman ones, making it a frontier fortress between France and the Crown of Aragon. After the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, the citadel lost its military importance. From 1853 the architect Viollet-le-Duc directed the restoration. Even in his lifetime his work was criticised as unsuited to the local climate and traditions, for example for roofing the towers in northern-French slate rather than local terracotta tiles. In 1997 the Cité de Carcassonne was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Local customs

• Enter through the Porte Narbonnaise and walk a stretch of the wall walk for a view over the lower town and the River Aude
• visit the Château Comtal and climb onto the ramparts
• in the evening, watch the floodlit outline of the walls.

Travel tips

• The stone lanes inside are uneven, so flat shoes are recommended. Summer sun is strong, so bring water and sun protection. Admission to paid sites such as the Château Comtal is subject to the official information. Take a train to Carcassonne station, then a bus or a walk up the hill into the citadel. If you drive, park outside the walls and walk in
• the citadel is not suited to driving through.
• Spring and autumn are best for strolling the walls. Summer brings medieval-themed and evening events, but also the most visitors. Winter is quiet and good for looking slowly at the architecture.