The medieval city is impressive not only for its perfect state of preservation, but also for its sheer size: 2,500 years of history, 52 towers, 2 concentric walls and 3 kilometers of ramparts.
There are four gates to the Cité de Carcassonne:
- The Porte Narbonnaise, to the east, is the main gate. You'll pass over the drawbridge added by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, during the extensive renovation of the Cité, which took place between 1852 and 1879. You'll also see the statute of Dame Carcas, the legend of which we'll tell you a little later.
- The Porte d'Aude, to the west, is used by only 6% of visitors entering the city of Carcassonne. It faces the river of the same name. Thanks to its purely medieval style, it has been used as a backdrop for many films, including Les Visiteurs, Robin Hood, Le Corniaud...
- The Porte Saint-Nazaire is closest to the Basilique Saint-Nazaire, formerly the Cathedral.
- The Porte de Rodez, the oldest gate in the north, dates back to Gallo-Roman times.
Once you've passed through one of the gates, the journey back in time begins! Stroll through the charming streets and alleys of the Cité de Carcassonne, where history meets modernity. The medieval alleyways, with their 2500 years of stonework, are lined with stalls selling old-fashioned, handcrafted, artistic and local products, as well as bars and restaurants where your taste buds can discover local produce.
In the heart of the medieval city of Carcassonne, you can also explore its 3 kilometers of ramparts, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
The château comtal, dating from the 12th century, has been modified and improved over the centuries. It's also a must-see if you want to get a better idea of what life was like in the medieval town at the time. Its walls feature 9 towers. The tour costs €9.50 and lasts around 1h30.
Don't miss the Basilique Saint-Nazaire, the Haunted House, the Inquisition Museum and the School Museum.
Today, only around a hundred people live in the Cité year-round. However, the town knows how to keep up with the times, sublimating its history to meet the expectations of French and international tourists alike.
The Tourist Office offers guided tours, led by certified guides, all year round, day and night, by lantern light. This gives the tours an added charm that makes them absolutely unforgettable.
Tours by horse-drawn carriage or miniature train are another way to discover the medieval town.
An Escape Game in the medieval city is available on the Carcassonne Tourist Office website. The tour lasts around 1 hour, and the puzzles are accessible to children aged 12 and over. Augmented Reality films on daily life in the city in the Middle Ages are also available. For younger visitors, workshops on the arts of the Middle Ages are organized for ages 6-11, every Wednesday, at weekends and during school vacations.
The must-see event in the Cité de Carcassonne is the fireworks display on July 14th. Fabulous, it draws crowds every year: 700,000 people on average.
The legend of Dame Carcas
During the Saracen occupation, Emperor Charlemagne laid siege to the Cité. Dame Carcas was in charge of the City, and the protection of its people, following the death of her husband, the Saracen king Ballak.
After 5 years of siege, the city was starving. Dame Carcas decided to set up a ruse, as a last chance for the city. She arranged straw dummies to make it look as if the city's defenses were still strong. And she stuffed the city's last little pig with the last available measure of wheat, and threw it over the ramparts to make Charlemagne believe that the city still had abundant reserves to withstand the siege.
And it worked. Charlemagne immediately raised the siege. Dame Carcas called him back to make peace by sounding the trumpets, hence "Carcas sonne". In honor of the woman who saved the city and its people, the town was renamed Carcasonne.
