What can Carcassonne offer?

Built on a steep spur of rock alongside the River Aude Carcassonne’s rampart ringed fortress dates back more than two millennia. The fortified town is encircled by two sets of battlements and numerous stone towers topped by distinctive pointed roofs.

The medieval citadel is free to roam with its narrow cobbled streets dashing off in all directions. There are bistros, cafes and shops selling local produce and the essential souvenirs.

Carcassonne becomes very busy during the summer months with a hive of tourists whereas out-of-season is a little more pedestrian and certainly more relaxing. The citadel is completely free with the exception of ascending the ramparts. Tickets for this will cost €9.50 (GB£8.30) but does offer sweeping views of the area.

Le Pont Vieux (The Old Bridge)

Although the River Aude has several bridges spanning its banks Le Pont Vieux is by far the oldest and prettiest. It was built during the 14th century to provide a quick link between Carcassonne’s lower and upper towns and rebuilt in the 19th century. It’s one of the few surviving medieval bridges in the region prized for its graceful arches and compact dimensions, and is only open to pedestrians.

Basilique des Saints Nazaire et Celse (Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsius) 

Located within the citadel walls of the old town the original church is believed to have been built in the 6th century during the reign of Theodoric the Great, ruler of the Visigoths. On 12 June 1096 Pope Urban II visited the city and blessed the construction of the cathedral which was completed in the first half of the 12th century. The doors are open to visitors were a donation is always welcomed.

Place Gambetta (Gambetta Square)

This is a large open space in the new town with a coffee shop, well maintained flower beds and lots of park benches under the trees. The Square is surrounded by lovely buildings including the Museum of Modern Art that displays a variety of statues and water features around the square. Gambetta Square is also home to the ‘Tricolore’: a large French Flag flying over the WW II War memorial.

Place Carnot (Carnot Square)

This graceful square is surrounded by well maintained 19th century buildings offering cafes, restaurants and small convenience stores. It’s home to a bandstand for civic and musical events. In the centre of the square is a white marble statue of Neptune holding a dolphin and trident. This interesting Fountain was created in 1770 by the Italian farther and son sculptors Barata.

Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Carcassonne (Carcassonne Cathedral of Saint Michel)

Carcassonne Cathedral is located in the new town. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Carcassonne and Narbonne. The cathedral was built in the 13th century as a parish church dedicated to Saint Michel. Following war damage in the 14th century it was rebuilt as a fortified church. In 1803 St Michel’s church was raised to cathedral status.

Weekend Market

At weekends, situated outside Carcassonne Cathedral in the new town you’ll discover the local market offering everything from local fresh produce, breads and cheeses, apparel, bedding and hardware. The market opens at 6am and finishes for midday.

Where to eat

Eateries are plentiful around both the old town and new town offering the perfect respite from exploring or that evening meal serving typical local French dishes. A local dish to this region is ‘Cassoulet’. This is served in a shallow terracotta dish brimmed with duck, sausage, butterbeans in a creamy vegetable broth. It’s very filling and delicious.

Here are some other venues worthy of a mention.

Le Bistrot d’Alice – lebistrotdalice.fr

This is a cosy little bistro located at 26 Rue Chartrand in the new town serving typical French dishes such as Steak Tartar, traditional burgers and French onion soup.

Comte Roger – comteroger.com

This restaurant located at 14 Rue Saint-Louis within the medieval citadel has a sleek contemporary design and tables set up on a lovely airy patio. This restaurant can also boast its Michelin rated status that’s surprisingly not that heavy on the wallet.

Auberge de Dame Carcas – damecarcas.com

This is a quaint bistro located at 3 Place du Chateau inside the Citadel offering traditional Cassoulet along with other local dishes. It’s a great little place to people watch over a drink.

Toulouse

Fifty miles to the north-west of Carcassone is the city of Toulouse. There are many ways of reaching the city from Carcassonne but the easiest way to get there is by train. There is a direct train service from Gare de Carcassonne to Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau that takes roughly 45 minutes if you catch the fast service. Tickets cost roughly €40 (GB£36) return.

SNCF train

Toulouse is known as ‘The Pink City’ or ‘Space Capital’ of France. Toulouse is made of buildings tinted in pink and earthy tones. Lodged between the banks of the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi it’s France’s fourth largest city and one that still goes unnoticed in Southwestern France. The mild climate and friendly locals give Toulouse an inviting ambiance.

You’ll be amazed at what there is to see and visit in Toulouse: countless churches, museums, gardens and is a great shopping mecca. Toulouse is a very pretty city. Below are some sites to visit if your time here is brief.

Pont Neuf Bridge

It’s the oldest bridge in Toulouse. Construction began in 1544 and completed in 1632.

Place du Capitole

The Place du Capitole in the central square is the most popular sight of Toulouse. The Place du Capitole is currently home of the City Hall. The square is full of cafes and bars so if you visit it when the weather is nice it’s worth sitting down for a coffee or an ice cream.

Basilique Saint-Sernin

The Basilica of Saint-Sernin is dedicated Saint Sernin who died in 257AD. The story goes he was tied from the legs to a bull and dragged to Toulouse and died on what is now the Rue du Taur ‘Bull street’. Today his remains are available for pilgrimage in this church. The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Couvent des Jacobins

Constructed in 1229 Couvent des Jacobins is a monastery and a church with free entry located in the city centre. 

Cité de l’Espace

This is probably one of the most famous venues in Toulouse. While Toulouse’s deep association with aviation (Airbus in particular) is well known this city’s interests go beyond the stratosphere.

Since 1997 Cité de l’Espace has brought the wonders of the universe to Toulouse through spectacular life size models and prototypes alongside some fascinating exhibitions and interactive exhibits. Tickets can be purchased through this link. One day tickets cost €24.50 (GB£21.35)

Courtesy of Google.com

Stop for Brioche Doree

If you’re on the go and a little hungry why not quickly stop for a typical ham and cheese brioche sandwich. Yes, Toulouse has a plethora of boulangeries and patisseries but this is equally as delicious.

Final Note

If you fancy a reasonably priced few days away perhaps over a long weekend then consider Carcassonne and Toulouse. The flight times are short and there is plenty to do to fill a few days. The history is good. The architecture is beautiful. The food is delicious. Do like I did and use Carcassonne as your base then use public transport to explore the wider area.