Carcassonne Travel Guide
Carcassonne is one of the most visited cities in France and there is a good reason for this. The medieval city of Carcassonne still stands as it was in the past. The city still has numerous watchtowers and its double wall enclosure. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, while the main additions were made in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Comtal castle, which dates from the 12th century, offers archaeological exhibitions and a visit of the inner ramparts.
The visit of the city is free, and you can enjoy walking in this beautiful old town as well as a complete tour between the two ramparts.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
Getting there
The easiest ways to reach Carcassonne is by car. It takes around 1h from Toulouse and there are numerous parking lots once in Carcassonne.
If you are travelling using public transportation, then the easiest and fastest is to take an Intercity train from the train station of Toulouse Matabiau. The ride takes 41min and is direct. The train station of Carcassonne is located next the Bastide Saint-Louis (the modern part of the town).
Moving Around
Carcassonne is a small town and therefor you will be able to just walk around. There won’t be any need for public transportation.
When to Visit
You can visit the city all year round, but the weather might not be that nice. Carcassonne as a city in south as a better weather than most of France though.
As most of the cities in France, the best time to visit is Mai, June and then September. It is always better to avoid the summer Holidays (July, August). Especially that Carcassonne is pretty famous place in France.
Where to Stay
We would recommend one the Airbnb below, but if you prefer booking.com:
- Le Florentines has beautiful room with terrasses
What to Eat
Here are some of the local food:
- Le Petit Carcassonnais: The city’s must-have! This small pleasure created in 1928 by Mr. Gau and offered by the Fuster Bakery-Pastry Shop will delight your taste buds.
- Les Grès de la Cité: These small brick-shaped candies made since 1958 are a real pleasure for praline lovers to discover in the delicatessen La Ferme.
- The Carcassonnais: The Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Fuster offers you the speciality “Le Carcassonnais”. A brioche dough and a candied fruit pastry cream, what could be better?
- The Cassoulet: Emblematic dish of the region that exists in several versions including the Carcassonnaise. This dish is to be tasted in a watertight earthenware container which gives it its typical and sought-after aspect. Various Carcassonne chefs offer Cassoulet on their menu, to (re)discover it.
- The dry liver sausage: This traditional pork sausage has an original and very typical taste. To be eaten cold as an aperitif or hot for your salads and other dishes, you will be charmed by its taste.
If like us you have aPlant-based diet, it might be complicated to eat the local food 🙂
Things to do in Carcassonne
Bastille Saint-Louis
Visit the Bastille Saint-Louis, which La Bastide Saint-Louis is a neighbourhood of Carcassonne and one of the two area to visit while you are there (the other one being the Old city of Carcassonne). The Bastide Saint-Louis is the city center and is also known as the lower city. It is where all the local life takes place and where you will find the local markets, shops and squares.
Église Saint-Vincent de Carcassonne
Once in the Bastille Saint-Louis, you can make a quick stop at the Saint Vincent Church, a nice gothic church.
Pont Vieux of Carcassonne
Cross the river on the old bridge of Carcassonne which used to be the main access to the old city.
Point de vue
The viewpoint is actually a stop on the new bridge. Next to the Pont Vieux, this spot is not as charming and will have many cars passing by. But it also offers a beautiful view of the old city and its old bridge.
Cité de Carcassonne
The best thing of the day! This fortified medieval city, whose origins date back to the Gallo-Roman period, owes its fame to its double enclosure, nearly 3 km long and comprising fifty-two towers, which dominates the valley of the Aude. You will be able to walk freely within is beautiful cobble streets.
Murs de Carcassonne
The old city is protected by two walls. Both surrounding completely the city. You can enjoy a walk between those two walls and get some amazing views.
Porte de l'Aude
Take a look at the the Door of the Aude (formerly door of Toulouse): this door is bored in the wall of the Visigoths, in the XIIth century. The semicircular arch on the outside seems to be from this period by its structure and the nature of the materials used.
Château Comtal
Once you have strolled enough within the city, discover this Comtal castle and walk on the ramparts.
The Château Comtal of Carcassonne was built in the 13th century, probably after the treaty of Paris in 1229. Courtines and towers have come to literally frame the former palace of the Viscounts of Carcassonne as well as the Sainte-Marie chapel.
PS: it cost 9.5€ per person to access it.
Basilique Saint Nazaire
And the last stop of the day within the wall will be the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire-et-Saint-Celse of Carcassonne, a Catholic, that was formerly a cathedral. it has held the rank of a minor basilica since 1898 and was built between the IXᵉ century and the XIVᵉ century.
Carcassonne Castle Panorama View Point
If you are by car, or if you do not mind walking a bit more. You can get to this beautiful viewpoint to get a complete panorama of the city from the opposite side of the Bastille Saint-Louis
Itinerary
That’s the order we opted for:
- La Bastide Saint-Louis
- Église Saint-Vincent de Carcassonne
- Point de vue
- Cité de Carcassonne
- Murs de Carcassonne
- Basilique Saint Nazaire
- Château Comtal
- Porte de l’Aude
- Pont Vieux of Carcassonne
- Carcassonne Castle Panorama View Point
Prouver que j’ai raison serait accorder que je puis avoir tort. -Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
“Proving that I am right would be admitting that I could be wrong.”
