Site Seeing around the Medieval City of Carcassonne

There are two sightseeing trips we liked, a small train takes you round the walls.

The other is a horse drawn carriage ride around the old buildings.You can also go on mini bus day trips at 27 B Rue frederic mistral 11570. Both take about 20 mins and have a audio in several languages to explain what you are seeing.The town has a good choice of restaurants in all price ranges

Carsassonne Walls
In the walled area there is a selection of shops where you can watch craftsmen working. The city has a Cathedral dating back to the 14th century some parts to the 11th century. The Museum of Chivalry, Arms and Archery has some interesting exhibits.The museum of the Middle Ages shows you how to defend or attack a medieval castle.

Carcassonne makes a good base to tour the area it is not to far from Spain. Or the South of France and the Mediterranean coast.

Most of the popular hotel chains have hotels in the area. There are campsites or you could stay in a Gite just outside the town as we did. That way you can enjoy the local fresh produce and a glass or two of wine. In your own garden or by the pool after a hard days sightseeing.

Read full article and enjoy more photos: The medieval city of Carcassonne France

Take a video tour of the medieval city of Carcassonne

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Spectacular Location nr Carcassonne - Must be Viewed - French Property of the Week

You need to view to appreciate the beauty of this property - with gite, pool and small lake and 23 hectares.

The main house has a large living area, open plan fitted kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 5 shower rooms, 5 toilets, and a small living area in the guest area.

Also stable, greenhouse and outbuildings.

Perfect Lifestyle choice with income from the Gite.

Town: NEAR CARCASSONNE
Department: Aude
Region: Languedoc - Roussillon
Price:     €480,000

More details and Photos: Property with Lake

Take a Video Tour of the Aude area:
The picturesque French department of the Aude is situated in South-West France, and is named after the Aude River. The department has a very rich - and quite bloody - history. This video takes you on a tour of some of the places to be found in and around the Aude's High Valley. One of these places is the world-famous hilltop village of Rennes-le-Château (Google it!). Admittedly, my primary interest when I shot the footage contained in this video was churches and castles, so I apologise for the apparent fixation on these structures throughout the video.

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Carcassonne Cite History

One of my favourite locations in the South of France - the fortified city of Carcassonne. Today the South of France blog publishes an excellent commentary on the history with some stunning photographs. Here is an extract ....

Carcassonne is a fortified city in the South of France. It was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.

The Sarrasin occupation provided inspiration for one of the best-known legends of the Middle Ages…

The emperor Charlemagne laid siege to Carcassonne, then ruled by the Sarrasin king Ballak, who was succeeded after his death by his wife, “Dame Carcas”. The town had already been under siege for 5 years when famine overcame the last of its defenders. So alone Dame Carcas kept watch from the ramparts. To give the illusion that the city remained well guarded, she made straw figures and dressed them as soldiers and fired arrows at the besieging army.

All that remained in the town was a little pig and one sack of wheat. Dame Carcas fed the pig with all the wheat and then threw it from the ramparts! At the sight of such a well fed fat animal, the amazed assailants concluded that the inhabitants had plenty of food and probably weren’t going to surrender any time soon. Charlemagne called off the siege in despair. But before the huge army had quite disappeared Dame Carcas rang the bells of the city to celebrate victory.

Full article and Photos of Carcassonne: Carcassonne City

Video Exploration of Carcassonne:

Property near Carcassonne

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Video Tour of Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon along the Med coast. Carcassonne is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassonne was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century, though the Romans had fortified the settlement earlier. The fortress, which was thoroughly restored in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.

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Enjoy Carcassonne Video

Some background: Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department,The fortress, which was thoroughly restored in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. Fortification consists of a double ring of ramparts and 53 towers. The name can be derived as a hyperbole of name Carcas.

Enjoy the video about Carcassonne Fortress:

More about Aude Department
Selection of property in Carcassonne

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