Carcassonne photo gallery

Carcassonne is famous for its medieval fortress that looks like a scene from a fairy tale. Secured by 2 walls toppled with 52 towers on top of the hill, this area used to be at the crossroads of the Atlantic to Mediterranean link and a major military defence post at the frontier. After the Franco-Spanish War ended in 1659, the border moved further south and this fortress lost its importance.

During the 19th century, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc saved the dilapidated site from ruin. The walls had been dismantled and the stone taken away by local entrepreneurs for re-use while the poor had moved in. The entire medieval town was classified as a historic monument to pave the way for restoration, although parts of it did not return to their original look, which stirred controversy at the time.

From Toulouse, the fastest trains take only about 40 minutes to reach Carcassonne, making this a good half day trip option. While the train station is located in Ville Basse quite a long walk away from the fortress, there are a few sights worth stopping by en route. But the core of your visit should be the fortress, which will take up half the day.

The Medieval Fortress - Ramparts

Inside the Medieval Fortress

Les Halles