- Located in France, the village is often cited as one of the best-preserved medieval sites in Europe.
- Its architecture features narrow cobblestone streets, stone houses, and fortified walls that date back to the 10th century.
- The village is perched atop a hill, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
- It has been recognized by the French government as a “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France).
- The village is known for its rich history, with many buildings and landmarks reflecting its medieval heritage.
- Local artisans contribute to the culture, selling handmade crafts and traditional products.
- A popular tourist destination, it attracts visitors with its quaint charm and scenic beauty.
- The village hosts various festivals throughout the year, celebrating local culture and traditions.
- The surrounding region is famous for its vineyards, and wine tasting is a common activity for visitors.
- Its unique blend of history, architecture, and picturesque scenery makes it a photography hotspot for travelers.
It is a fascinating corner of history that takes you back in time and brings magic to life. Between ramparts, crenellated towers and castle it transports the visitor to the heart of the Middle Ages…
There are truly enchanting villages in Europe, are treasure troves of beauty and history. They are places where time seems to stand still, where every corner has something to tell. It is the spectacular atmosphere that invades those who come to these countries that makes them special. In France these places are really numerous and are a bit of a gem of the country, they are scattered all over the territory, but there is one more than others that draws the fascination of so many visitors not only from the country itself, but also from abroad. Those, for example, who are planning a trip to the Southern France, or is located on the border with Spain certainly cannot fail to make a stop in this village that is a veritable fortified citadel. When you come to this place it is difficult and you find wonderful strong walls in front of it, it is impossible not to think of battles of bygone days, of soldiers trying to enter the city and those trying to defend it, because everything is so beautifully intact that the imagination quickly kicks in.
The village with as many as two UNESCO sites that enchants and seduces
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This hamlet that is one of the 5 most visited in France, thanks to its rich and well-preserved historical heritage has as many as two sites that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and they are precisely the fortified citadel and the Canal Du Midi. We are talking about Carcassonne, a rather large village that enchants with its medieval ramparts and the perfectly preserved towers. The fortified citadel turns out to be one of the best preserved and this is divuto mainly to a skillful and constant restoration work that still allows for an unforgettable journey through time. Carcassonnand is a jewel of Occitania which in addition to having this important historical trace has always been of economic importance and for being precisely a commercial hub since ancient times, since it stands on the main route that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and to the one that instead leads from the Central Massif to the Pyrenees.
Carcassonne: the perfect archetype of the medieval city as we imagine it
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Reading about bloody battles, soldiers attacking and defending if we think of a perfect setting we imagine it exactly like Carcassonne. 52 towers, a double city wall, and a castle of its own built in the 12th century by the Trencavel family make this village a true medieval masterpiece set in a crown on a hillside amid vineyards. One enters this splendid theater from the Porte de la Narbonnaise, the city’s main gate, entirely reserved for pedestrians. To be seduced by this place you don’t need a precise itinerary, but just stroll through the narrow streets lined with small artisanal boutiques, stop and sip a coffee in its delightful little cafés on the small squares. If you are lucky and find yourself here in the summer, you can also attend one of the many cavalry tournaments with a background of medieval music: clashes of arms, knights compete, shining armor will leave you speechless and let you experience the time of a crusade.
From the ramparts to the castle everything you need to see to go back in time
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Yes starts at the ramparts to turn a glance into more distant times. The city walls are double between them one can indulge in a wonderful walk surrounded by palisades, once used during the knightly tournaments, it will not be difficult to contemplate the beautiful scenery of towers, battlements, castles and watchtowers. The inner walls date back to 1280 while the outer walls were added around 1320, over a total length of more than 3 km. Delving into the heart of the place, it is worth visiting the county castle that bears the memory of its founders, the viscounts of Trencavel, masters of Carcassonne and the Midi in the 12th century. It is a real fortress with a drawbridge, portcullises and everything that makes it a brave and strong manor. Inside are two courtyards and a museum.
There is much more to see in Carcassonne
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Carcassonne is also much more its wealth of architecture, history and nature enhance it even more in luougo not to be missed. Do not miss the striking and extraordinary basilica Saint-Nazaire where the contrast between the bare nave and the rich Gothic apse full of ornaments and light, the sumptuous stained glass windows will leave you speechless. A Carcassonne the sunset is something romantic and extraordinary to enjoy all its wonder just go when the sun goes down over the Pont Vieux that connects the bastide Saint-Louis, the lower part of Carcassonne to the medieval city 210 m long. It is this bridge another iconic place in Carcassonne, the view here is unique and lets you see all the beauty of the city. Another unmissable stop is the Canal du Midi second Unesco World Heritage Site of Carcassonne, the artificial canal that stretches 241 kilometers between the cities of Toulouse and Sète, one of the most important engineering works in Europe commissioned by the Sun King.
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