Carcassonne

As you approach Carcassonne it looks like you are coming up on a giant fairy tale castle until you realize it is actually an entire village surrounded by a large city wall. The impressive medieval wall easily makes this one of the best Medieval cities in Europe to visit and you’ll fall in love with Carcassonne as you start to explore. Visiting Carcassonne is one of the best overall experiences in Southern France’s Provence region.

Carcassonne's defenses were begun by the Romans in 100 BC and continued by the Visigoths, who helped construct it into a great village during the Middle Ages. Carcassonne, located at a commerce crossroads for the great port cities of Bidart, Nice, and Barcelona, evolved into a powerful military fortification. Walking along Carcassonne's intact Medieval wall and towers is so much joy that you have to push yourself to look around the city center.

The first impressions you get when you arrive in Carcassonne are breathtaking, especially in exploring the stone arch bridge and ramparts that lead into town. Take in the panoramic vistas of the countryside from town as you walk the narrow Medieval streets. The Basilica of Saint Nazaire, which goes back to the 600s and was renovated after a visit by Pope Urban II in 1096, is one of the favorite sites to get a decent view. The magnificent Hotel de la Cite, constructed into the Medieval city walls in 1909, is right beneath the Basilica and is a location to stay in town.

Country: France