Learn about Medieval Carcassonne
Originally posted on & updated on 17th April, 2024
Carcassonne is home to an amazing fortified medieval hilltop city dating back to the first century. Known to many as the Walled City, La Cité, the area’s main attraction, is a city built within a castle. Without even stepping foot inside, you are already enchanted by the sheer size of the magnificent castle. And it is clear to see how it inspired the design of the Castle in Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Medieval Carcassonne
As Europe’s largest fortified citadel, Carcassonne is the ideal destination to be transported back into the medieval days. The area is free to enter and is a fully a working town with homes, shops, hotels, and restaurants. There is even enough room to fit in an open air theatre. Along the perimeters lie over 3Km of ramparts and a total of 52 towers, all of which provide fantastic views of the lower city below.
Inside the castle walls is a maze of thin cobbled streets, lined with a selection of small shops selling local items such as handmade jewellery and artwork. It is possible to spend hours of your day wondering around the city, exploring new areas and admiring views of the rolling hilltops in the distance worthy enough to be on a postcard!
On the UNESCO Heritage List
In 1997, the city of Carcassonne became part of UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage List as one of 45 sites in France. Thanks to a great deal of restoration work in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, UNESCO were happy to deem La Cité as “an excellent example of a medieval fortified town.”
Carcassonne Pays Cathare Airport is now accessible by many budget airlines and has regular flight connections between the UK, Ireland, Germany and Charleroi in Belgium. Alongside the culture, the beautiful location in the Occitanie region, Carcassonne makes it the perfect place to visit for a slice of medieval history. Take a look at our properties for sale near Carcassonne.
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