The medieval Cité and its ramparts
Two rings of walls, dozens of towers and a count’s castle: the historic heart of Carcassonne.
The Cité of Carcassonne overlooks the Aude valley from its hilltop. Its double ring of ramparts, nearly three kilometres long, has more than fifty towers: you can recognise it from afar, especially when it is lit up in the evening.
What to see?
The count’s castle and the rampart walk can be visited with a ticket (the monument is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux). Access to the lanes, the squares and the lists, the space between the two walls, is free: an opportunity to wander among shops, little squares and stone houses.
Our tips
Choose early morning or late afternoon, when it is quieter and more photogenic. Wear good shoes: there are plenty of cobblestones and some streets are steep. The castle’s opening hours and prices vary with the season: check the official website before you go.
The Cité has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
In the same category
The Cité
The Basilica of Saint-Nazaire
In the heart of the Cité, a Romanesque and Gothic church renowned for its stained glass.
The Pont Vieux and the banks of the Aude
The link between the Bastide and the Cité, with one of the finest views of the ramparts.
