Visit the breathtaking Cite de Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a fortified city, inhabited since the Neolithic period, in the Occitanie region in France. It sits on the Aude River, on the intersection of many routes that connect the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. This medieval fortress rests on a strategic hilltop and was used during many different empires and rulers, starting from the Gallo-Roman Period to the Visigoths who founded the city. 

Carcassonne is a unique spot with extraordinary architecture that every history buff must visit. About 60 miles away from Toulouse, this fortified city has two outer walls that were protecting the 53-tower fortresses from the enemies. 

Carcassonne is one of the most beautiful places to visit in southern France, especially if you are coming from a country where medieval fortresses are not part of the culture and history.

The fortified city of Carcassonne is an attractive destination that receives a lot of visitors especially from May to August, and sometimes the waiting line can be too long and make you turn around and leave. To avoid this, get a pre-paid ticket and enter the city without waiting for hundreds of tourists in front of you. 

Once you get in the city, you can explore the miles long ramparts, check out the two fortresses, one built in the 4th and the other in the 12th century. 

Carcassonne is a symbol of strength, battle, and endurance. Walking inside the majestic walls of this ancient city will help you take a look back in the turbulent history of France, and learn a lot about the architecture, conquests, and different cultures that ruled with this grandeur location. 

Spending an afternoon at Carcassonne will make you understand the power and the strategic planning of the ancient people who knew how to create a cultural and historic legacy for the generations to come, without any advanced technology. Carcassonne is a must-see excursion while in Southern France.