The medieval town of Carcassonne
THE place to visit in Aude Pays Cathare.
Explore the majestic citadel which overlooks the town of Carcassonne, one of the largest medieval towns in Europe, by strolling through its cobbled streets, walking around the barbican at the foot of the ramparts then visiting the Basilica of Saint Nazaire with its breathtakingly beautiful, 13th and 14th century stained glass windows. In the 19th century, thanks to the joint efforts of the people of Carcassonne and the Historic Monuments authority which entrusted the restoration project to Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the ancient fortress was restored to its former glory and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The impressive architecture of the medieval fortress comprises 3km of ramparts, 52 towers, 2 monumental gates (Porte d'Aude and Porte Narbonnaise), barbicans, a castle and a basilica among a maze of crenellated walls, steps, chicanes and archways.
It is essential to visit the castle with a guide or an audio guide to understand the history of Carcassonne, its links with the history of France, the saga of the Cathars and the complete restoration programme which resulted in the world-famous architectural gem and World Heritage Site we see today.
The Basilica of Saint Nazaire dates from the first half of the 12th century and features both Romanesque and Gothic styles. It lost its status of cathedral in 1801 to the church of Saint-Michel in the medieval town, but received the title of Basilica in 1898.
What to see in Carcassonne
From the castle, go down the hill to the lower town and cross the old bridge over the River Aude. Walk or cycle around the lower town, known as the ""Bastide Saint Louis"", go up to the church of Saint Vincent to admire the magnificent view of the whole town against the backdrop of the Pyrenees. Families can have fun exploring the town with the aid of a booklet for children or go on a treasure hunt.
You can’t leave Carcassonne with walking or cycling beside Canal du Midi or cruising along it.
Carcassonne is also art galleries, shops selling local specialities, pavement cafés around the Place Carnot where a market is held every Saturday morning, joggers along the banks of the Aude...
Enjoy a meal of cassoulet in Carcassonne, the traditional dish of haricot beans, sausages and Lauragais duck. Cassoulet also exists in the form of a dessert : vanilla ice cream and nut brittle ! Maybe you have caught sight of Carcassonne from the autoroute…just in passing. So this time why not stay longer in Aude and explore the numerous places of interest in Pays Cathare.
Direct access via A6 autoroute. Rail links. Ryanair flights from Belgium, Portugal , Dublin, etc.
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