CHECK OUT MY VIDEO ABOUT CARCASSONNE:

WHERE IS CARCASSONNE?

City of France, capital of the department of Aude, in the region of Occitania. To the southwest of Toulouse and to the west of Narbonne.

Just 3 hours from Barcelona, Spain.

And 40 min of Toulouse (the 4th largest city in France)

INDEX:

CARCASSONNE, HER STORY:

OLD AGE:

The first settlements on the hill date from the VI century BC with gallic towns. But during the roman era in Galia Narbonense, it was decided to fortify the promontory where today sits the cité began as an “oppidum” a fortress. The romans gave the name of Iulia Carcassum when founding the city. Hereinafter referred to as Carcasso.

To weaken the roman empire, the visigoths occupied the city in the century V when formed the visigothic kingdom of Toulouse and built more fortifications that still remain. In the 719 the last resistance visigoth in the Septimanía fell and passed into the hands of the muslims. They were expelled by the franks, a few years later under the reign of Pippin the Short and it was again in the hands of the visigoth nobility.

MIDDLE AGE:

The city was a vassal of the carolingian empire for a time and also of the kingdom of Aragon by another. The important family Trencavel took possession of the city in the 1067. Among the works that launched, is the of the basilica of Saint-Nazaire, whose cabinets are considered the most beautiful in the south of France and the castle condal. Carcassonne was one of the main fiefs cathars and a victim of the crusade against them. To understand the history of Carcassonne is necessary to know what were the cathars.

The catharism it was a religious movement, considered heretical by the Church, it spread to Western Europe from the X century: the main features of his doctrine was the rejection of all material and the affirmation of a duality of creator (God-Satan). During the albigensian crusade (the cathars were also called albigensians) the Church, with the support of the kings of France, chased them to weaken them, forcing them to live underground and are doomed to extinction a couple of centuries later.

In August 1209the army of the crusaders Simon de Montfort forced the surrender of the city after a siege of fifteen days. He took as a prisoner to Raymond Roger Trencavel and became the new viscount. Expanded the fortifications and Carcassonne became a citadel of the border between France and the Crown of Aragon. In the year 1213, the battle of Muret, won by Simon de Montfort against the king Peter II of Aragonmarked the prelude to the domination of the kings of France on the Aquitaine.

In 1240, Ramon Trencavel II son of Ramón Roger Trencavel attempted to reconquer their former domains, but was unsuccessful, being expelled along with the citizens who supported him in the revolt. Finally Carcassonne became hand of the king of France Louis IX who forgave him, then to the people who supported the revolt and allowed to go back to Carcassonne with the condition to stay in the west bank of the river, on the basis of the new part of the city at the foot of the hill, called the Low city or fortified Town of San Luis. We built the fortifications exterior, considered impregnable walled city, and getting the look that it has today. During the of the hundred years war in 1355 the fortress managed to resist the attack of Edward, the Black Prince, demonstrating its effectiveness defensive.

MODERN AGE

Signing up at 1659 the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Carcassonne was the border between France and Aragon, falling from that year on its military importance, and focusing on the textile industry. The walled city was gradually abandoned, becoming ruins in the NINETEENTH century, at which time the architect Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc, the same who restored the cathedral of Notre Dame and built its central tower, began the work of restoration.

CONTEMPORARY:

In 1844 construction began considered the best example of military architecture, medieval, being finished in 1911. In 1997, Carcassonne was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, because of its historical importance and peculiar beauty that today I will have the luxury to share with you in this video.

SITES TO VISIT / TO DO IN CARCASSONE

Click on the names of the places to see their location on Google Maps.

It is the bridge that you'll see if you walk to the cité from The Town of San Luis. It is an old bridge (Pont Vieux in French) that crosses the river Aude. It was built in the early FOURTEENTH century in the same place where he was, the roman bridge. It was defended on its left bank by a header militarized and by the side of the Cité was connected with the defences of the fortress by a line of walls flanked. The bridge has been restored and changed with the passage of the centuries.

At the other end of the bridge, on the west access, is situated on the side of the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Santé from the beginning of the century XVI, single vestige of which was the hospital oldest in the city, built to house the sick of the plague. In 1527 Jean de Saix donated money for the construction of the hospital.

If you keep the way of the old bridge, you're going to spend a very nice area with houses very picturesque and a good signaling that lead to the main entrance to The Cité.

Within The city you'll be able to see the following key points:

To the side of the main entrance of the castle, you'll find a spot amazing for nailing a photo like this.

The entrance to the castle is payment and costs 5,5€. You can buy it a ticket that includes a walk in the walls that leaves 9,5€. Incredibly I could not do it on my 4 days in Carcassonne. Since I was only 1 day in the city, and the others were traveling to other cities. When I came back it was already night, to be the season of winter, the castle was closed. Anyway, we can skirt around the castle and having views like these:

The castle was built by the Trencavel in the TWELFTH century and was the residence of this powerful family until the capture of the city by Simon de Montfort in 1209.

A spectacular church that was also built by the Trencavel between the centuries XI-XIV. With the displays of most impressive Midi French (a dream!), the cathedral of Saint-Nazaire is a great example of harmonious coexistence between the romanesque and the gothic. They have mass every Sunday at 11am. The entry for visit is free.

This is the gate of the walled city which gives the side of the river Aude, which is nearest to the Castle of Barcelona; his "back door". A stroll along the city walls starting from the main entrance of the city you'll come to this place. I did it at sunset to walk with some good mates, and cookies. I felt the river plate to 1000%, climate hyper cool and memory for eternity.

Honestly I never heard of this while in Carcassonne. What I saw then, and I wanted to die. Since it seems that is part of what you'll be paying the full entry to the castle (I THINK!). For the photos that I've seen and the events (MEDIEVAL!) that make it wonderful. I hope you can enjoy of this for me.🙏

As I said before, a large part of this you'll be able to walk and without pay. You'll have views like these:

Walk from The Town up to the CIté, you're going to see this part of the wall

But without a doubt worth paying for the castle and walk the city walls (which will probably include the theatre). During the tour of the walls I saw the preparations for what seemed to be a medieval fair. I didn't see it from my trips to the other cities, and being winter the days are short and very cold. The times of the events were during the day. Here you will be able to get more info about the event that is performing the cité: https://www.tourisme-carcassonne.fr/es/agenda/

Originated by the forgiveness of the King Louis IX the rebels who supported the revolt of Ramon Trencavel II in 1240these settled in this place of the city, that they could not live more within the cité. Is the neighborhood where you will probably stay. It is very nice, there are narrow streets with a design typical of the age moderna, beautiful squares and some of the churches that I will detail below.

IMPORTANT! At the fall of the sun and in the winter season, it appears that the entire cultural scene unfolds in this neighborhood. That is to say, within the walled city, there was almost no one left, and I was really VERY cool. I spent a LOT of cold. However, in the lower city there were a lot of people on the streets enjoying the centre with its restaurants, and other attractions. The cold seemed to decrease there. Full of lights for the christmas and new year is coming so it was one of their squares:

When you pass through the city walls of Carcassonne, on the side of the river Aude, you will have the view to the whole of the Bastide de San Luis and this great Cathedral will undoubtedly draw attention. You'll see a take on this that I say in my video of Carcassonne. Unfortunately I had no time to look around and also close-by outside. But here I share some pictures.

This church was very close to the hostel where I stay so I spent all day at your curb. I was in remodeling so I could not enter, nor was worth it to make pictures; but you could tell the art gothic and dramatic, as we are used to seeing all the French churches of the middle ages!

I had the chance to see it when I went to the train station to go to Narbonne. To reach the station you will cross over the Pont Marengo, below this bridge passes the Canal Du Midi. In addition to what you'll have at your side if you get to the city on Flixbus (the means of transport that I recommend below) because the stop is next to the canal. Don't wake up with great admiration if you don't know what that means, you will look like a small river common and current. But their importance to unite all the cities is a work of engineering master.

TOUR RECOMMENDED

Simply go through all the cité (not very big) is beautiful and absolutely medieval. If you have some time left to visit the other tourist points around that I mentioned before. You're going to be able to do everything walking.

I started my tour from the hostel, in The Town of San Luis. Crossing the Pont VIeux, was already amazed with what my eyes were seeing. You will cross a very nice area of colorful houses all well signposted that will take you on a climb, bordering part of the cité, to the door of Narbonne. It's called the main entrance. Once within the medieval city you'll discover step-by-step all the places that I mentioned to you, and the shops, restaurants, hotels, etc that make it even more beautiful to the cité. 

WHERE TO STAY IN CARCASSONNE?

I stayed in Le Couvent Hostel 4 nights for a total of $127USD / $122,40€ that is 30,6€ by night. It is located in the bastide de San Luisvery close to the stop of the Flixbus and train station. Less than A half hour walk from the cité medieval.

They are very good facilities! With room for 4 people with bathroom incubated or 2 people with private bathroom in the hall (I could see I). They have a restaurant very nice but did not have breakfast. I was able to ask for water for mate 🧉 and were always very attentive and with a smile. Due to the extreme cold, and any failure of your heating, I went from the room of 4 to 2 (in both I was alone). Fortunately there was more cushioned and we sobreellevar the cold. I was given a birra 🍺 during the match of Brazil for the world cup (for the inconvenience). And as they do not have towelsyou sell them for 4€ (a small) that still have it and use it in my travel ja!

Of course there are other options if your budget is more bulky or if you don't want to hostels.

TOMI TIPS

-There are people who dedicate 2 or more days just to Carcassonne and I think that's worth it. But, since Carcassonne you are at a point intermediate very good to be able to go visit Toulouse, Narbonne/Bezier, Montpellier and Nimes (Among others). You can move on bus/train, or bla bla car. I did it and will be telling you more in detail each of these destinations in specific videos and blogs of these places.

-There is a good panoramic view of the city from HERE. You can see all the cité and the surrounding vineyards give a touch of epic and medieval. I'm not going to lie, I was not exactly there (I didn't have time), but during the trips that I did I was able to see it from the highway and it is INCREDIBLE.

-If you're going in the winter abrigate a blast!!! Until now it was the place where cold I went after my beloved hometown Argentina de Tandil. I went during the month of December 2022.

HOW TO GET FROM BARCELONA TO CARCASSONNE MODE (LOW COST)

The way I did it day 2 of December of 2022 from Barcelona Estació del Nord to Carcassonne in Flixbus by 16€ at 9.30 hs. And arrived at 14.30. Leaves you in the center of the city moderna of Carcassonne, canal du midi, in the town of San Luis, exactly here: STOP FLIX BUS CARCASSONNE

The return was from Carcassonne the day, December 6, on Flixbus also 16€ at 1.25 AM (A cold tremendous waiting for the bus, alone in the dark) and arrived at 6.15 AM to Barcelona Nord. Therefore, if you would like to go and come the day you could.

Before getting to Figueres you are going to have a stop in one place for you to eat. And when you cross the border possibly go up French authorities to control the passports. During the way you're going to have places like these.

GASTRONOMY MODE (LOW COST)

Well, it's always best to buy in supermarkets, if your budget is limited. That is what I did. Just went to an irish pub to watch the match of Argentina vs Australia for the world cup in Qatar and I ate a burger with fries and a beer. A little bit expensive and I was hungry. But the place I loved is called THE OLD CELT and I met a couple of basques who invited me to be a birra while my seleccion argentina de football, he passed on to the quarter finals of the world! I should mention that the mode "low cost" on the food makes arrival the night you want to deborar all. 😅