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Carcassonne
Photo: Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Towns & villagesCastles & CatharsWorld Heritage (UNESCO)France

Carcassonne

A medieval city with double ramparts – a must

From the 2014 guide – ThomasA very old city with double ramparts, magnificent and full of history. It was ruled by the Cathars at the start of the 13th century, but Simon de Montfort had the Inquisition's mandate to take the city. A lot of blood was spilt. Not to be missed!!

La Cité has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. Come early in the morning or late in the evening when the day-trippers have left – the walls are lit up in the evening. Start town for the Tour de France stage to Foix on 7 July 2026.

The history of the Cathars

In the summer of 1209 the crusaders besieged Carcassonne. After two weeks without water the city surrendered on 15 August. The inhabitants were allowed to leave ”in their shirts and breeches” and abandon everything else. Viscount Raymond-Roger Trencavel died in prison that same autumn, and Simon de Montfort took over. Trencavel's son tried to retake the city in 1240 but failed.

UNESCO World Heritage

Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne

World Heritage since
1997

Europe's largest surviving medieval fortified town: three kilometres of double ramparts with 52 towers, the Château Comtal and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire. The architect Viollet-le-Duc restored the town in the 19th century, and his restoration is itself part of the World Heritage site.

Visit: The streets of La Cité are free to walk. The castle and the wall walk on the ramparts require a ticket. Come early in the morning or after 6 pm when the day-trippers have left – the walls are lit up in the evening.

UNESCO World Heritage

Royal Capetian Fortresses of Languedoc

World Heritage since
2026
This site
The castle and the ramparts

Eight fortresses that the French kings built or rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries after the Albigensian Crusade, to hold the border with the Kingdom of Aragon: the castle in Carcassonne and seven sentinels on rocky ridges – Aguilar, Lastours, Montségur, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Quéribus and Termes. They are often called Cathar castles, but the walls you see today are mostly the king's, built after the fall of the Cathars. World Heritage since July 2026.

Visit: All the castles charge an entrance fee and sit on steep summits – allow a 15–45 minute walk uphill in sun and wind. Peyrepertuse and Quéribus may close when the tramontane is blowing hard.

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43.2070° N, 2.3640° E

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