Simply breathtaking!
The drawbridge will fire your imagination instantly!
Crossing the Porte Narbonnaise, a 2-tower gateway with murder holes and portcullises, is like venturing into an unknown world of 8 centuries ago! Off we go!
Carcassonne 1 day
Let your imagination run wild in the castle towers, lose yourself in the narrow Medieval streets and dominate the world from the rampart walls before relaxing with a drink on one of the terraces. Yes, Carcassonne has all of this!
01 Highlight
The drawbridge will fire your imagination instantly!
Crossing the Porte Narbonnaise, a 2-tower gateway with murder holes and portcullises, is like venturing into an unknown world of 8 centuries ago! Off we go!
The citadel village is still inhabited. The approach street climbs gently up to the impressive barbican that towers before us. This is the entrance to the fortress, the ancient palace of the viscounts of Carcassonne. That’s where we’re heading.
02 Highlight
Horsemen practise wielding their weapons while servants go about their chores, As soon as we set foot in the main courtyard, surrounded by the high castle walls and towers, our inner child sees troubadours and horses, and imagines being an armoured knight ready to defend his castle!
You’re greeted by her statue on entering the Citadel. Everyone knows her in Carcassonne. It is said that she cunningly ensured the town was named after her. Find out more about this icon of the Citadel.
Walk from room to room admiring the statues and recumbent figures… vestiges of life in Languedoc during the Middle Ages. Not forgetting the moving Romanesque frescoes which are still surprisingly bright and colourful.
A large model offers an overview of the Citadel. The tour takes us through corridors and up and down spiral staircases. It’s easy to get lost in this maze! I wonder if people got lost here in the Middle Ages…
03 highlight
On the wall walk, with the wind in their hair, every visitor stops to contemplate the incredible view! The Medieval rampart wall towers above the town, offering a landscape of round towers, square towers, pointed towers, the crenelated basilica steeple, the pink rooftops of the Citadel, and the exceptional backdrop of the Montagne Noire and Pyrenean mountains. 360° view!
After 2 hours of adventure, it’s time to leave this unique place. Stop at the boutique & bookshop where you’ll find a lovely range of souvenir items, books, children’s games, and even a selection of local wines including Corbières, Minervois and Blanquette de Limoux!
Continue your walk in the winding cobblestone streets of the old town, discovering the restaurants, ancient buildings, and boutiques of every nature. From one street to the next, the atmosphere switches from buzzing scenes of children shouting happily and crowds of people enjoying the aromas that waft out of the restaurants, to alleyways bathing in silence, where only the ghosts of a troubled past come to whisper in your ear. Or was it just the breeze?
Carcassonne Tourist Office
“Besides the castle, Carcassonne Tourist Office proposes various tours of the town and treasure-hunt packs.”
“Or you can visit the Medieval Living History Centre for a tour in costume.”
Reds, yellows, blues, and a gleaming and fragrant shroud of colour and incense that almost hypnotises us. Whether you’re a believer or not, this is the perfect place to find inspiration and serenity.
04 Highlight
The ultimate goal: To daydream in the sun and enjoy the peace and quiet of a café terrace. Yes, Carcassonne has this too! Try a few olives washed down with a glass of local wine, in the sun, with friends, all in an outstanding setting… sheer joy!
For direct access to the Citadel, turn off the A61 motorway at the Carcassone-Est exit. It’ll take you 5 minutes to get here.
Arriving in the centre of Carcassonne, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing the Canal du Midi as soon as you leave the station. You can then reach the citadel on foot or by public transport, as described above.
More information about carcassonne's train station timetable.
Ryanair operates scheduled flights from Carcassonne Airport to destinations in Northern Europe (London, Dublin, Brussels, etc.) and to less frequent destinations such as Porto.
A bus link runs between the airport and the Bastide and Cité
More information about flights for Carcassonne's Airport
Cabanel Distillery is an institution in Carcassonne. Its products can be purchased at the main site in the Bastide, and from good-quality wine retailers and local produce specialists. Our favourite is the Menthe (mint liqueur), to be served on the rocks and drunk in moderation!
The “citadel cobblestones” are a chocolate speciality for sweet-tooths.