Carcassonne castle, France
The ancient walled city of Carcassonne perched on a hill over the more modern extended town is an historical treasure. Located at the strategic intersection of two historic trade routes, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from Spain to the center of France. In Carcassonne, visitors stroll along the cobblestone streets, browsing shops selling Medieval wares. Some describe it as a tourist-trap.
There is the beauty of the old stone buildings and the wonder of treading worn cobbles that have seen countless generations since the city’s foundations 2000 years ago. One legend from Carcassonne history is the attempted siege by Charlemagne in the 9th century.In the 12th century the building was described as a palace but it was transformed into a genuine fortress. Of the 19th century it was in such bad repair that it became scheduled for demolition, to be saved by the efforts of the local mayor.
Carcassonne owes its division into two separate “towns” – the Cité and the Ville Basse – to the wars against the Cathars. The inner rampart was built in 485, when Euric I was king of the Visigoths. Clovis failed to take it in 508, though Muslim invaders succeeded in 728, as did Pippin III the Short in 752.
The famous walls of the Old City contain survivals from all these periods. The walled town of Carcassone is roughly rectangular in shape, up to 525 meters long and 250 m wide. Here you see a false door. The centre of the old castle contains museums, many bars and restaurants and many tourist shops. Today over 50 restaurants lie inside Carcassonne’s walls offering the famous Casualty and other gourmet delights.
Entry is free to the bulk of the city; only the castle and towers attract a fee.
