Carcassonne

Europe's largest medieval fortified city, with 52 towers and double ramparts, plus the Canal du Midi, hilltop Cathar castles and some of France's most beautiful villages nearby.

Carcassonne lies in the Aude department of France's Occitanie region, between Toulouse and the Mediterranean. The Aude river divides the city in two: on the hill on the east bank stands the medieval fortified citadel, “La Cité”, while on the west bank lies the Bastide Saint-Louis, a grid-plan lower town laid out in the 13th century. La Cité and the Canal du Midi are each UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The climate is Mediterranean; Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct are the best times to visit. Jul–Aug is hot and La Cité is packed — on 14 July (Bastille Day) there are fireworks over the citadel, and the Festival de Carcassonne is held in July; winter is quiet, with a Christmas market in December. Sightseeing falls into three areas: La Cité (the Château Comtal, the rampart walkways, the Lices between the walls and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire); the lower town (the market on Place Carnot, churches, the Pont Vieux and the Canal du Midi port); and the surrounding Cathar castles and old villages — to the north, Lastours, the Gouffre géant de Cabrespine, Saissac and the book village of Montolieu; to the east, Minerve, Lagrasse and Fontfroide Abbey; to the south, Limoux, Rennes-le-Château and hilltop castles such as Quéribus and Peyrepertuse. Getting there: Carcassonne Airport is served by European low-cost airlines; trains from Toulouse take about 45 minutes, and from Paris via Toulouse about 5 hours. La Cité and the lower town are within walking distance of each other; the surrounding castles require a car or a guided tour. Allow 2–3 days, and spend a night inside La Cité to enjoy it lit up after dark. The signature dish is cassoulet.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries