Carcassonne, located in the Occitanie region of Southern France, is world-famous for its Cité de Carcassonne, an exceptionally well-preserved medieval fortified city. With its double ring of walls, towers, and castle, this fairytale-like citadel captures the imagination and attracts millions of visitors each year.
1. Double Ring of Fortification Walls
The most striking feature of the Cité de Carcassonne is the double ring of fortification walls, with a total length of nearly 3 kilometers. The inner wall dates largely from the Gallo-Roman period (3rd-4th century) and the Visigothic period, while the outer wall was primarily built in the 13th century under royal French authority.
Between the two walls lies an open space, the ‘lices’, which served as an additional defensive line and provided space for troop movements.
2. More Than 50 Towers
The ramparts are reinforced by no fewer than 52 towers of various shapes and sizes. These towers served as lookout posts, defense points, and sometimes as living quarters.
Some notable towers include the Tour de la Justice, the Tour de l’Inquisition (housing a museum about the Inquisition), and the large, round Tour Pinte, the tallest watchtower of the inner wall.
3. A History Spanning Over 2500 Years
Although famous for its medieval appearance, the hill on which the Cité stands has a much longer history. There was already a settlement in the 6th century BC (a Gallic oppidum). Later it became a Roman city (‘Carcaso’), followed by Visigothic and Frankish rule.
In the Middle Ages, it was an important stronghold of the Viscounts of Trencavel and later a royal bastion of France, crucial in the defense against Aragon (Spain).
4. Role in the Albigensian Crusade
Carcassonne played a significant role during the Albigensian Crusade (early 13th century), a conflict directed against the Cathars, a religious movement considered heretical by the Catholic Church.
The Trencavel Viscounts of Carcassonne were tolerant towards the Cathars. In 1209, the city was besieged and captured by the crusaders led by Simon de Montfort. The Trencavels lost their possessions, and Carcassonne came under direct royal authority.
5. The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle)
5. The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle)Within the fortress walls lies the Château Comtal, the castle of the viscounts. This ‘fortress within a fortress’ originally dates from the 12th century but was later expanded and reinforced by the French kings.
The castle has its own moat, walls, and towers and served as the residence of the viscount and later the royal seneschal. Today, it houses a museum about the history of the Cité.
6. Saved from Demolition by Viollet-le-Duc
After centuries of military significance, the Cité fell into disrepair in the 17th and 18th centuries. The fortifications were outdated, and the city lost its strategic importance after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), which moved the border with Spain further south.
In the 19th century, there were even plans to demolish the fortress walls. However, the Cité was saved thanks to the efforts of local notables and especially the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who led a large-scale and sometimes controversial restoration starting in 1844.
7. Controversial Restoration
The restoration by Viollet-le-Duc was essential for the preservation of Carcassonne but is also controversial. He had an idealized vision of the Middle Ages and added elements that were not always historically accurate for Carcassonne, notably the pointed, slate roofs on many towers (typical of Northern France, not the Languedoc region).
Although his work gave the Cité its iconic appearance, it is criticized by some historians as too fanciful and not entirely respectful of its original state.
8. UNESCO World Heritage Site
Despite the controversies surrounding the restoration, the Cité de Carcassonne was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. UNESCO praised it as an exceptional example of a medieval fortified city, with its enormous scale and the quality of the preserved defensive works.
It is one of the best-preserved and most complete examples of medieval military architecture in Europe.
9. Lively City Within the Walls
Unlike some other historical sites, the Cité de Carcassonne is not an open-air museum but a living city. About 50 people still live within the walls, and there are numerous shops, restaurants, hotels, and craft workshops.
This contributes to the atmosphere, but the huge influx of tourists (especially in summer) can sometimes make it very crowded.
10. Source of Inspiration for Art and Games
The fairytale-like appearance of Carcassonne has served as a source of inspiration for countless artists, writers, and filmmakers. It is often mentioned as a possible inspiration for castles in Disney films.
Additionally, Carcassonne gained worldwide fame through the board game of the same name, designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, where players lay landscape tiles to build roads, cities, monasteries, and fields. The game has further increased the city’s renown.
