There may be translation errors. Our translator went ahead to visit the towers of the Carcassonne ramparts, and we never saw him again... Perhaps he fell into a medieval prison?
What to see in Carcassonne?
The upper town of Carcassonne. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: via depositphotos.
A few words before we get started.
La Porte d'Aude. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: PabloDebat via depositphotos.
Carcassonne is the prefecture of the Aude department. It is home to just over 45,000 Carcassonnais. The medieval town has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1997. With free access, it attracts over 4,000,000 visitors a year , making it France's 2nd most visited tourist site outside Paris, after Mont Saint Michel. It owes its fame to the work of Eugène Viollet-Leduc (1814-1879), the famous architect who not only safeguarded the site, but recreated it with his own imagination, as he asserted : "Restoring an edifice does not mean maintaining it, repairing it or remaking it, it means re-establishing it in a complete state that may never have existed at a given moment" .
Visit Carcassonne in 6 stages
1 The medieval city of Carcassonne
La Porte Narbonnaise. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: PabloDebat via depositphotos.
You've got to admit it's an incredible city, perched on its eminence, with two walls (totaling over 3 km) and 52 towers . Take the time to walk around the walls before entering the town through the Porte Narbonnaise (because it led to the Narbonne road), which is not too far from Rue Gustave Nadaud (for your GPS). The space between the two lines of ramparts is called the Lices. In days gone by, knights' tournaments were held here. Nowadays, events are held here, especially in fine weather. Opposite the Porte narbonnaise is the Porte d'Aude. In the heart of the town, you'll find the castle, cathedral and many old houses.
Take the time to wander through the narrow streets and along the ramparts... That's the charm of Carcassonne. Here: Place Auguste PIERRE PONT. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Weisdergeier via depositphotos.com
The town is full of little streets and squares, where you'll need to get lost for a while to get some great photos. You won't want to miss rue Cros-Mayrevielle with its boutiques , and you'll continue on to discover other arteries, large and small, including place Auguste Pierre Pont with the Hôtel de la Cité, and rue Saint Nazaire for a superb photo of the château...
The view from rue Saint Nazaire. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Pablo Debat / via dépositphotos.
Among the many streets to discover, note the Rue du Plo (where you'll find the medieval camp, open every day during the vacations, otherwise on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays), Place du Petit puits, Place Marcou (to find a restaurant or terrace) as well as the Ruelle Saint Sernin, Rue du Tréseau (near the tower of the same name), Place du Grand puits or Place Saint Jean. The best way is to leave via the Porte d'Aude, where you'll discover the whole of the lower town and the Bastide.
2 Carcassonne castle
The entrance to the Chateau Comtal in Carcassonne. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: pedro2009 via depositphotos
This is the heart of the medieval city and the home of the Viscounts of Trencavel since 1067. Work began in 1130, at the behest of Bernard Aton IV de TRENCAVEL, but a fortress already existed, as part of the ramparts were added on top of Gallo-Roman ramparts, and the bases of some of the towers date back to Visigothic times. All periods of history are present in Carcassonne, as excavations in the 19th century uncovered the mosaic floor of a Roman villa in the Pinte tower. Speaking of towers, there are 9 here in all, surrounding what, over time, has become a fortress facing outwards, but also facing the city, whose kings of France have had a hard time getting the upper hand.
The inner courtyard of the Chateau Comtal in Carcassonne. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Fotember via depositphotos
Practical Information: Carcassonne Castle and City Walls
Hours
From April 1 to September 30, 10:00 a.m. – 6:15 p.m. Last admission to the castle at 5:00 p.m. and last admission to the ramparts at 5:45 p.m.
From October 1st to March 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Last admission to the castle: 3:45 p.m. and last admission to the ramparts: 4:15 p.m.
Closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25
Prices:
€19 for admission to the castle and the ramparts
Audio guide: €4.
You can find your tickets here
The city of Carcassonne is well worth a guided tour, which you can find here:
3 Saint Nazaire Basilica
Located in the city center, it was for a long time the city's cathedral, before the church of Saint Michel was finally chosen in the 19th century. It has to be said that, far from being appreciated, the old town began to lose its inhabitants in the 18th century to the Bastide. It became a center of interest again with the work of Viollet le Duc. Its architecture is a harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, and is renowned for boasting some of the finest stained glass in the South of France.
The magnificent stained glass windows of the Basilica of Saint Nazaire in Carcassonne. Image chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: anibaltrejo via depositphotos.com
4 Carcassonne museums
I'm listing them here, not because I prefer them to the rest of the ranking, but because they're in the medieval city. There's the Château Comtal museum, of course, but also the Musée de l'Ecole: a 5-room museum dedicated entirely to the history of schooling in France from 1880 to 1960. It is located on rue du Pio. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays. For full details, click here. There's also the creepy Inquisition Museum, which tells the story of the evolution of torture instruments. It's open every day, which is quite expensive for the visit. For more information, click here. Finally, there's a haunted house, and it's really scary.... For more information, click here.
5 outside the walls: the old bridge, the Bastide Saint Louis, the Cathedral
The lower part of Carcassonne is well worth a visit. Here you'll find the cathedral of Saint Michel, the Neptune fountain on Place Carnot, the church of Saint Vincent and its astonishing bell tower, and the port overlooking the Canal du Midi.
6 the canal du midi.
The banks of the Canal du Midi not far from Carcassonne. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: dudlajzov via depositphotos.
278 kilometers long, it links Toulouse to the Mediterranean. It is France's largest 17th-century engineering structure. Long a trade route, it is now dedicated to river tourism. In Carcassonne, you can see the Pont Marengo lock.
What's for dinner in Carcassonne?
The wines
We're already drinking. The town is surrounded by vineyards. The wines of the Cité de Carcasonne are I.G.P (Indication Géographique Protégée). We're also in the Limoux terroir, where the famous blanquette de Limoux was studied by Dom Pérignon when he wanted to know how to master the bubbles of champagne. In fact, it's the oldest sparkling wine in the world to be made here, since the process was discovered by the monks of Saint Hilaire Abbey in 1544. Also worth tasting are A.O.C Cabardès and Corbières (A.O.C: Appelation d'Origine Controlée). Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.
Cassoulet from Carcassonne:
The "god of Occitan cuisine" according to Prosper Montagné, the great specialist, cassoulet is "the poor man's dish" in the south of France, and each town has added its own personal touch. There are three great cassoulets: Castelnaudary, Toulouse and Carcassonne. Carcassonne's is made with beans, of course, pork rind, goose confit, Toulouse sausage and partridge.
Olives, truffles, snails
You can also try Lucques olives (not bad for an aperitif), dry liver sausage and escargots à la languedocienne (garlic, anchovies and cured ham with Provence herbs). There's also a black truffle market.
A little history:
Carcassonne today. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: maugli via depositphotos.
Carcassonne: a very old site
The earliest mention of Carcassonne comes from Pliny the Elder (1st Century AD). He speaks of "carcasum". It was first an oppidum, then a Roman town on the road from Bordeaux to Narbonne. It was fortified for the first time in the 3rd century, with 1 km of ramparts (some of which served as the basis for the medieval ramparts) and over 30 towers. Taken by the Visigoths in the 5th century, it was regularly attacked by the Franks. The town was conquered by the Muslims in 725 (and became qarqshuna). The inhabitants were obliged to give half their possessions to the new masters of the city, which was conquered in 759 by Pepin the Short. By the end of the 12th century, Catharism was gaining a strong following in Carcassonne. They were protected by Viscount Raimond Roger TRENCAVEL (1185-1209), and the town was besieged during the Albigensian Crusade. Thirst drove the town to capitulate. Out of distrust for the inhabitants, the kings of France transformed the castle into a defensive fortress, both inward and outward. In 1234, the Inquisition set up shop in the town to deal with the Cathars. Having become a fortress, the upper town saw the expulsion of its inhabitants, who founded the lower town around the bastide Saint Louis. It was this part of the town that was to flourish economically, notably thanks to the textile industry. It was also an important fortress for the kings of France against the kings of Spain. It was precisely the end of tensions between the two kingdoms in the 17th century that saw the fortified town lose interest and gradually fall into ruin.
The city as seen from Carcassonne. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.
The work of Viollet le Duc.
Jean Pierre CROS-MAYREVIEILLE is trying to save a city that has been severely damaged by time and redeveloped (the lices contained 112 houses in 1820). He fell in love with Eugène VIOLLET LE DUC, who literally rebuilt the medieval town, paying little attention to archaeology. His work is sometimes controversial, but it gave the upper town of Carcassonne its current appearance. Today, it's one of France's top tourist attractions.
Carcassonne before the works of Violet le Duc. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: By Gustave Le Gray - Gallica / BNF.
The legend of Dame Carcas
It is said that Carcassonne takes its name from Dame Carcas. The wife of Ballak, the town's Muslim leader, she is said to have confronted Charlemagne. When her husband was killed, she took charge of the city's defense, repelling the onslaught of Charlemagne's armies. Cleverly, she set up fake soldiers made of straw to make it look as if the town was filled with men. She also had a pig fed wheat and thrown off the ramparts to make it look as if the city had plenty of reserves. The siege lasted 5 years. Charlemagne then decided to lift the siege, and to celebrate, Dame Carcas rang all the city's bells, prompting Charlemagne's reflexion that gave rise to the city's name "Carcas sonne! She is depicted on the Porte Narbonnaise.
Geo / Web / Train / Parking info
Carcassonne is in the Aude department, Occitanie region. Zip code 11 000.
By car :
It is located 771 kms from Paris (7H30 by road), 93 kms from Toulouse (1H00), 152 kms from Montpellier (1H40) and 60 kms from Narbonne (1H00).
By train :
There's a train station at 1 avenue du Maréchal Joffre. The website is here.
The websites :
The official Carcassonne tourism website
Grand Carcassonne tourism website.
How do you park in Carcassonne?
P0 – Porte Narbonnaise
GPS address: Chemin de Montlegun, 11000 Carcassonne.
This is the closest parking lot to the medieval city, about 200 meters from the Porte Narbonnaise.
Rates:
- First 30 minutes free
- Up to 2 hours: €1 per 15 minutes
- Between 2 a.m. and 12 p.m.: €0.50 per 45 minutes
- 12:00 PM: €13.50
- Overnight rate: €3 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., depending on the season.
Please note: A lost ticket will be charged at €30.
P2 – Porte d’Aude
GPS coordinates: Camin del Ortz, 11000 Carcassonne.
Located about 450 meters from the Porte d’Aude, with access via a fairly steep incline.
Rates:
First 30 minutes free. Up to 2 hours: €1 per 15 minutes. Between 2 and 12 hours: €0.50 per 45 minutes. Free overnight between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
P1 – Porte Narbonnaise
GPS address: Chemin de Montlegun, 11000 Carcassonne.
Park-and-ride lot located about 400 meters from the entrance to the citadel. Free shuttle service in the summer.
Rates:
First 30 minutes free. Up to 2 hours: €1 per 15 minutes. Between 2 and 12 hours: €0.50 per 45 minutes. Free overnight between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., depending on the time of year.
Inside the Count's Castle in Carcassonne / Photo selected by Monsieur de France: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
Where to stay in Carcassonne? The best neighborhoods and surrounding areas based on the type of trip you're taking
You can find your vacation rentals here
You can find your all-inclusive vacation here.
Staying in the medieval city of Carcassonne
This is the most magical option. You’ll sleep right within the city walls, enjoying a unique atmosphere once the tourists have left. Ideal for a first visit, a romantic weekend, or a medieval immersion.
On the other hand, hotels are often more expensive, and getting there by car can be less convenient.
Staying at the Bastide Saint-Louis
This is Carcassonne’s “lively” downtown area. Here you’ll find more restaurants and shops, and prices are often lower than inside the medieval citadel.
The neighborhood is a convenient base for exploring the lower town and the Canal du Midi on foot, and for easily reaching the medieval citadel.
Staying near the Canal du Midi
A great choice for a peaceful stay. Accommodations along the canal often offer a more tranquil and green setting.
Perfect for travelers who enjoy walking, biking, or simply relaxing in a peaceful setting.
Places to stay near the Carcassonne train station
The area around the train station is convenient for short stays without a car. You’re right next to public transportation and about a 20-minute walk from the medieval town.
Prices are often more affordable.
Where to stay near Carcassonne?
Trèbes
Located just a few kilometers away, Trèbes is a charming little town on the banks of the Canal du Midi. It’s a great option for a quiet place to stay while remaining close to Carcassonne.
Villemoustaussou
A small residential village northeast of Carcassonne, known for its tranquility and accommodations with parking.
Palaja
Highly sought-after for bed-and-breakfasts and vacation rentals with pools. A more rural atmosphere, ideal for summer.
Pennautier
Known for its castle and vineyards, Pennautier is the perfect destination for a culinary and wine-tasting getaway near Carcassonne.
Caunes-Minervois
For a more authentic stay in the Cathar hinterland. A beautiful village with Occitan charm, vineyards, and a more peaceful atmosphere.
Limoux
About a 30-minute drive away, Limoux charms visitors with its historic center, its blanquette, and prices that are often more affordable than in Carcassonne during peak season.
Which neighborhood should you choose in Carcassonne?
- To explore the city on foot: the medieval city
- For restaurants and the local atmosphere: Bastide Saint-Louis
- For a peaceful getaway: Canal du Midi or Palaja
- For those on a budget: the train station area or Limoux
- For a romantic getaway: the medieval town of Pennautier
- For families traveling by car: Trèbes or Villemoustaussou
On the ramparts of Carcassonne / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.com: Jérome Prod'homme -c-
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Carcassonne
Is admission to the medieval city of Carcassonne free?
Yes. Access to the medieval town is completely free, day or night. However, there is an admission fee to visit the count’s castle and the ramparts.
What are the must-see attractions in Carcassonne?
The must-see sights include the medieval town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Count’s Castle, the city walls, the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, the Old Bridge, and the Canal du Midi. The bastide of Saint-Louis is also worth a visit for its more local atmosphere.
How long does it take to visit Carcassonne?
Allow a full day to explore the medieval town, the ramparts, and the city center. To also enjoy the Canal du Midi, the restaurants, and tours of the vineyards, a weekend is ideal.
When is the best time to visit Carcassonne?
The best time to visit is from May to October. Spring and early fall offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds than in the height of summer. July is very lively thanks to the Carcassonne Festival.
Can you visit the ramparts of Carcassonne?
Yes. You can visit the ramparts with a ticket to the Count’s Castle. The walk offers one of the most beautiful views of the city and the Aude region.
Where should I park to visit the city of Carcassonne?
The most convenient parking lots are P0 Porte Narbonnaise, P1, and P2 Porte d’Aude. They are located right next to the main entrances to the medieval quarter.
What to eat in Carcassonne?
The classic dish is the Carcassonne cassoulet, made with white beans, confit, and sausage. You should also try the wines of the Cathar region, Blanquette de Limoux, and products from the Languedoc.
Is it possible to visit Carcassonne with children?
Yes. Carcassonne is a perfect family destination thanks to its ramparts, medieval reenactments, summer shows, and narrow streets that make you feel as though you’ve stepped back into the Middle Ages.
Is Carcassonne accessible to people with limited mobility?
Yes. Specially designed routes provide access to a significant portion of the medieval city, including for wheelchair users (whether accompanied or using an electric wheelchair).
Is it possible to stay overnight in the medieval city of Carcassonne?
Yes. There are several hotels and guesthouses located right within the city walls. Staying in the old city allows you to enjoy the peace and quiet in the evening and in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Discover more
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