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Historical site · Carcassonne, Occitânia
Cité de Carcassonne
Medieval fortified town on top of a hill, with a double wall of about 3 km and 52 towers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; access to the streets is free.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cité de Carcassonne
The Cité de Carcassonne is the walled medieval town that dominates the valley of the Aude river. The hill has been occupied since before the Romans, and the fortifications were strengthened up to the 13th century, when the town passed into the hands of the king of France after the crusade against the Cathars.
What is striking is the size of the complex: a double wall of about 3 km, with 52 towers, enclosing an entire neighborhood still inhabited, with stone streets, houses, restaurants, shops, the castle and the basilica. Between the two walls lies the area called the lices.
In the 19th century, the Cité was in ruins and almost demolished. The archaeologist Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille fought to save it, and the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc led a restoration that rebuilt roofs and towers; some choices, like the steep slate roofs, still generate debate.
The Cité has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. You enter via the Porte Narbonnaise, to the east, or via the Porte d'Aude, to the west, which is the pedestrian route for those coming from the lower town. Walking the streets and the lices is free; the castle and the walkway along the walls require an admission ticket.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From half a day to a full day, with the castle.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when tour groups have not yet arrived or have already left. July and August are the busiest months. At night the walls are lit up.
How to get there
It's about 2 km from the Gare de Carcassonne. On foot, cross the Bastide Saint-Louis and the Pont-Vieux and climb up to the Porte d'Aude; there are also city buses to the Porte Narbonnaise. Cars are parked in the parking lots outside the walls.
Tip
Walk around the lices, the corridor between the two walls, to see the towers up close without paying an admission. Wear sturdy shoes: the ground is uneven stone and there are climbs.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cité de Carcassonne
Do you have to pay to enter the Cité?
No. The streets and the lices are open day and night and there is no charge for entry. The castle and the walk along the walls require a ticket.
How much time should I allot for the Cité?
From half a day to a full day, including the castle and the walls.
Who restored the Cité?
The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, in the 19th century, after the medieval city was nearly demolished.
Can you sleep inside the Cité?
Yes, there are accommodations inside the walls. Cars stay in the outer parking lots and luggage is carried up the stone streets.