Visiting Carcassonne is like taking a trip back in time, to 2,500 years ago. Nestling at the top of a hill, the medieval Cité dominates the whole town and stands as one of the best-preserved medieval ensembles in the world. Come and discover this jewel of our history and stroll through its charming cobbled streets. It's a truly immersive journey back to the Middle Ages.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château Comtal is the centrepiece of the town. The first stones of this building were laid in 1130, and its face changed over the years, with successive fortifications. It was in the 13th century that the former Trencavel palace became a château comtal.
Abandoned between the 17th and 19th centuries, the château has now been restored to its former splendour. Numerous tours are organised to find out more about the building and the role it played in French history.
But there's much more to Carcassonne than its medieval city. Nearby is the lower town, now known as the Bastide Saint-Louis, the Lac de la Cavayère, a great place to cool off in fine weather, and the famous Canal du Midi with its magnificent locks. The Canal du Midi was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Located mainly in the Aude department, but also in the Ariège and Tarn departments, the Pays Cathare is packed with magnificent monuments set in exceptional surroundings. The site of numerous citadels built by the Kings of France in the 13th century, it is also home to many castles that are well worth a visit in their own right. Marvel at the audois heritage on the mountainside.
The Cathar country boasts no fewer than 23 exceptional sites, each more impressive than the last. And among them are many abbeys. Lagrasse Abbey, Saint-Hilaire Abbey and Caunes-Minervois Abbey, for example, are jewels of their time. We also recommend a visit to Fontfroide Abbey, a real treasure in the middle of the garrigue. Its imposing building and its ochre and pink stonework create a wonderful play of light, adding relief to an already magnificent landscape.
