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All France Carcassonne La Cité Médiévale de Carcassonne

La Cité Médiévale de Carcassonne

Historic medieval fortified city in southwest France.

Carcassonne, France

Added By
mratomic
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La Cité, Carcassonne   mratomic / Atlas Obscura User
La Cité, Carcassonne   mratomic / Atlas Obscura User
La Cité, Carcassonne. (mratomic/Atlas Obscura)   mratomic / Atlas Obscura User
La Cité, Carcassonne   mratomic / Atlas Obscura User
  danshortwork / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne   pris72 / Atlas Obscura User
  Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  epfromer / Atlas Obscura User
  Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne: Bazilique Sainte-Nazaire   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Carcassonne   philoursmars
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About

Named a World Heritage Site in 1997, La Cité has a history spanning more than 2,000 years. The largest former fortress in Europe, it has played a decisive role in the history of Languedoc. An Iron Age Oppidum transformed into a Roman town in the 1st Century BCE, the city-state became the possession of the powerful Viscount Trencavel who ruled over Bas-Languedoc.

The town was invaded by Charlemagne during the 8th century, and is named after the Grand Dame of Carcas, the town’s widowed Moorish Queen, who rushed to its defense, ringing the town’s bell (Carcas a sonné les cloches) to indicate her victory over the invader.

Carcassonne was captured by Simon de Montfort during the Crusade against the Albigenses in the 13th century and an outer wall was constructed, along with an inner rampart, to strengthen the fortress’s position. Carcassonne quickly became one of the most important symbols of Royal Power in France due to its geographical location.

The town was renovated and restored during the 19th century by the architects Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Paul Boeswillwald, giving it back some of its former glory and importance. Today, the town, which is beautifully lit up at night, remains an impressive site despite its heavy tourist presence. The main attractions within the city’s walls are the Château Comtal, which was transformed into a citadel in around 1226; the Cour du Midi remains of a Gallo-Roman villa; and the torture chamber at the Exposition.

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Architectural Oddities Ruins Architecture

Know Before You Go

By road: From Narbonne or Toulouse, N 113 and A 61; by train: SNCF Carcassonne; by boat: Canal du Midi; by air: Aéroport de Carcassonne Salvaza.

Community Contributors

Added By

mratomic

Edited By

philoursmars, Jaszmina Szendrey, epfromer, Xavixavir...

  • philoursmars
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • epfromer
  • Xavixavir
  • pris72
  • danshortwork
  • Ale Grajales

Published

March 20, 2011

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Sources
  • Wikipedia: Carcassonne: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne
  • Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd.: World Tourist Attractions: http://sites.virtuoso.com/destinationguides/touristattractions/attractions/wtc/wtc.htm
La Cité Médiévale de Carcassonne
1 Rue Viollet le Duc
Carcassonne, 11000
France
43.20631, 2.364299
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Photo of France

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