The medieval town of Carcassonne
THE place to visit in Aude Pays Cathare.
Explore the majestic citadel which overlooks the town of Carcassonne, one of the largest medieval towns in Europe, by strolling through its cobbled streets, walking around the barbican at the foot of the ramparts then visiting the Basilica of Saint Nazaire with its breathtakingly beautiful, 13th and 14th century stained glass windows. In the 19th century, thanks to the joint efforts of the people of Carcassonne and the Historic Monuments authority which entrusted the restoration project to Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the ancient fortress was restored to its former glory and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The impressive architecture of the medieval fortress comprises 3km of ramparts, 52 towers, 2 monumental gates (Porte d'Aude and Porte Narbonnaise), barbicans, a castle and a basilica among a maze of crenellated walls, steps, chicanes and archways.
It is essential to visit the castle with a guide or an audio guide to understand the history of Carcassonne, its links with the history of France, the saga of the Cathars and the complete restoration programme which resulted in the world-famous architectural gem and World Heritage Site we see today.
The Basilica of Saint Nazaire dates from the first half of the 12th century and features both Romanesque and Gothic styles. It lost its status of cathedral in 1801 to the church of Saint-Michel in the medieval town, but received the title of Basilica in 1898.