Traveling in Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.
Neighborhoods & Around
Carcassonne's main neighborhood is La Cite, a doubly walled neighborhood declared a World Heritage site of Humanity by UNESCO. Located on the right side of the Aude river, the neighborhood includes all the features of a Medieval town as it has been described by kids‘ tales: turrets, narrow cobbled streets, towers, massive walls. Enjoy strolling along the winding streets and find those hidden spots and restaurants and cute stores. La Cite is small and packed with one tourist shop after another.
Carcassonne has a new neighborhood called La Bastide Saint Louis, also called the Lower Town (La Cite is on a hill). La Bastide owns a more daily local life ambience so it is a good alternative to more tourist-oriented Cite (although there are generations who have lived inside the walls). It is a good idea to stroll across the Place Carnot and sit at one of the cafes to enjoy the tranquil dynamics of a French country town. Don't miss the Saturday market where you can buy local produces.