Carcassone

Carcassonne is a fortified town in the French department of Aude, in the region of Occitanie. It is the departmental prefecture.

Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrénées. Its strategic importance was quickly recognized by the Romans, who occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire. In the fifth century, it was taken over by the Visigoths, who founded the city. Its strategic location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659.

The city is famous for the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress restored by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853 and added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. Consequently, Carcassonne relies heavily on tourism but also counts manufacturing and wine-making as some of its other key economic sectors.

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History & Culture

The first signs of settlement in this region have been dated to about 3500 BC, but the hill site of Carsac – a Celtic place-name that has been retained at other sites in the south – became an important trading place in the 6th century BC. The Volcae Tectosages fortified the oppidum.

The folk etymology – involving a châtelaine named Carcas, a ruse ending a siege and the joyous ringing of bells ("Carcas sona") – though memorialized in a neo-Gothic sculpture of Mme. Carcas on a column near the Narbonne Gate, is of modern invention. The name can be derived as an augmentative of the name Carcas.

Carcassonne became strategically identified when Romans fortified the hilltop around 100 BC and eventually made the colonia of Julia Carsaco, later Carcasum. In 462 the Romans officially ceded Septimania to the Visigothic king Theodoric II who had held Carcassonne since 453. He built more fortifications at Carcassonne, which was a frontier post on the northern marches; traces of them still stand. In 508 the Visigoths successfully foiled attacks by the Frankish King Clovis. Saracens from Barcelona took Carcassonne in 725, but King Pepin the Short drove them away in 759-60; though he took most of the south of France, he was unable to penetrate the impregnable fortress of Carcassonne.

Landmarks

Cathar Castles

Cathar Castles is a modern term used by the tourism industry to denote a number of medieval castles of the Languedoc region. Some had a Cathar connection, in that they offered refuge to dispossessed Cathars in the thirteenth century. Many of these sites were replaced by new castles built by the victorious French Crusaders and the term is also applied to these fortifications despite having no connection with Cathars. The fate of many Cathar castles, at least for the early part of the Crusade, is outlined in the contemporary Occitan "Chanson de la Croisade", translated into English as the "Song of the Cathar Wars".

Carcassonne Mideval City

The fortified city itself consists essentially of a concentric design of two outer walls with 53 towers and barbicans to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own drawbridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over quite a long period. One section is Roman and is notably different from the medieval walls with the tell-tale red brick layers and the shallow pitch terracotta tile roofs. One of these towers housed the Catholic Inquisition in the 13th century and is still known as "The Inquisition Tower".

Chateau de Queribus

The Château de Quéribus is a ruined castle in the commune of Cucugnan in the Aude département of France. It has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1907. Queribus is one of the "Five Sons of Carcassonne", along with Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Termes and Puilaurens: five castles strategically placed to defend the French border against the Spanish, until the border was moved in 1659.

The Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus

The Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located in the citadel of Carcassonne, France. It is a national monument, and is in the Gothic-Romanesque architectural tradition.

News

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Restaurants

Local Cuisine

Brasserie Cafe LUCIEN

Les Jardins de l’Estagnol

Le Bistrot D’Alice

Auberge des Lices

Moderately Priced

Creperie Le Ble Noir

Barriere Truffes L’Atelier

Burger et Cassolette

Le Clos des Framboisiers

Hotels

Bloc G

Located on the "Trivalle" historical area, two steps away from the medieval castle,the old bridge and five minutes walking distance from the city center, this guesthouse is a design address. Bloc g is an unique concept which puts forward a restaurant, a wine bar, a lounge with a fireplace and on the first floor 5 contemporary rooms with private bathroom.

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Campanile Carcassonne Est

Our new 3-star hotel in Carcassonne is located 2 km from the medieval city. Ideally located for visiting the Cathar region with its castles and vineyards, our hotel is just 5 km from the A61 motorway. It holds a ‘Tourism Handicap’ award and is involved in the Qualité Tourisme™ approach, ensuring quality of care and benefits.

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Domaine de Marseillens

Domaine De Marseillens is located 2 minutes from the medieval city of Carcassonne and next to Lac de la Cavayère. It is an old 18th-century winery and offers an outdoor swimming pool, themed rooms with free Wi-Fi and individually decorated rooms. Free parking is also available. The rooms all have a private bathroom and WC. Guests can enjoy a full breakfast every morning in the dining room.

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Best Western Hotel Le Donjon

Located in the heart of the medieval city of Carcassonne, Best Western Le Donjon is surrounded by the city’s ancient ramparts. The hotel features a restaurant and bar. It is divided into 3 buildings. Free WiFi is provided throughout. The rooms are individually decorated and include a flat-screen TV. They overlook either the citadel or the hotel’s garden.

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Mercure Carcassonne La Cite Hotel

5 minutes walk from the medieval quarter and 10 minutes from the Canal du Midi and the lower city, you will find the Mercure Carcassonne tucked away in a leafy corner. The hotel features a restaurant, a garden, a bar with a fireplace, 80 rooms (all non smoking) and 3 meeting rooms. The hotel has two private secured and free car parks. Whether for a business trip, a holiday or a conference, our hotel is a wonderful place to stay.

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Brit Hotel Bosquet Carcassonne

This friendly hotel is situated in a quiet location, a short drive from the town of Carcassonne by way of the A61/E80 motorway which is easily accessible from the hotel. Hotel Bosquet Carcassonne offers comfortable guestrooms fitted with modern amenities. Rooms can accommodate 1 to 3 people and offer TV and Wi-Fi internet access. The hotel restaurant serves regional and family-style cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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