Neighborhood highlights
Carcassonne
Languedoc Roussillon (France)
Hidden behind its 3 kilometers of thick ramparts and protected by 52 towers testifying to more than 2500 years of history, the city of Carcassonne, located on the right bank of the Aude, is the
the largest walled city in Europe. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its many historical treasures but also thanks to the Canal du Midi, this beautiful medieval city is one of the most popular destinations in France.
Renowned for its mild Mediterranean climate guaranteeing pleasant winters, Carcassonne can be visited year-round. So, winter and summer, it's almost guaranteed to be able to visit its medieval city under a beautiful blue sky! Overlooking the lower town, the city of Carcassonne, perched on its hill, is the city's main tourist attraction. Located twenty minutes from the train station (and therefore easily accessible), the Cathar city is made up of a huge maze of cobblestone alleys and courtyards lined with shops, terraces and restaurants. Enter via Porte Narbonnaise (the only door to have retained its drawbridge) to start your visit, discovering these iconic ramparts that make Carcassonne's reputation. The ideal for beautiful views is to opt for a walk along the lices between the ramparts to contemplate superb panoramas of the fortifications and the surroundings of Carcassonne while avoiding the crowds. If it is a monument to visit during your stay, it is Chateau Comtal. Built during the 12th century by the Vicomtes of Carcassonne, this masterful building has seen many changes over the centuries, earning it a reputation for being impenetrable. During your visit to this castle, you will discover its courtyards, its large rooms, its dungeon, its museum (and its magnificent sculptures of antiquity and the Middle Ages), and especially the famous bust of Dame Carcas, whose legend says that she alone would have managed to repel the army of Charlemagne. History says that during this victory, Dame Carcas decided to ring the bells of the city to celebrate the end of the battle, and thus would have been born the city of “Carcas Sonne”. Continue the tour with a walk on the inner ramparts, from which the views of the city, but also the Black Mountain and the Pyrenees are really superb. After going every corner of the castle, head to the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, another must-see for your stay. Nicknamed the “Jewel of the City,” the basilica is famous for its sumptuous stained glass windows among the most beautiful in the area. Beautiful inside and out, this building mixing Romanesque and Gothic art was built during the 11th century.
But Carcassonne is also a low town that thrives beyond its ramparts: the Bastide Saint-Louis. With its abundant churches, numerous cathedrals, mansions, and museums, it is the perfect place to walk away from the crowds. Quiet and green, the Canal du Midi and its banks are perfect for refreshing excursions on foot or by bike, but also for jogging at sunrise, so as to enjoy the show of the city in a quiet early morning.
For a discovery of the surroundings of Carcassonne, the ideal is still to rent a bike or to visit by motorbike the many Cathar sites that dot the Languedoc. Among the long list of monuments to visit, we suggest the Abbey of Saint-Papoul and its magnificent cloister, the Castles of Lastours, Aguilar, Puilaurens (perched at an altitude of 700 meters), that of Saissac or that of Peyrepertuse, not to mention the medieval city of Lagrasse, among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France". During the hot summer days, the Lac de la Cavayère (15 minutes from Carcassonne) will delight young and old alike! With its 3 beaches and water park, you will be able to indulge in long parentheses of idleness with the family. You can also swim, pedal boat, tree climbing, water skiing, paddle boarding and wake boarding. A little further, the abyss of Cabrespine is definitely worth a visit: located in the Massif de la Montagne Noire, it is the largest converted chasm in the world with its some 400 meters deep (you could put the Eiffel Tower, or the equivalent of 4 football fields).
Finally, if Carcassonne and its city can be visited, they are also tasted around good meals that honor the riches of the local gastronomy. If there is a dish that reigns supreme on the maps of the restaurants in the city, it is the cassoulet. Renowned for its hearty side and its recognizable flavors among a thousand, it is the emblematic dish of the city. You can also taste the fougasse with fritons, the dry liver, the Languedoc snails, not to mention the local wines such as the AOC Malepère and the IGP Cité-de-Carcassonne.
