Centre des monuments nationaux

Main menu

Monuments placed under the responsibility of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux for opening to the public

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
 
accessi_vous_etes_ici Home  >  Monuments  >  Château et remparts de la cité de Carcassonne
Château et remparts de la cité de CarcassonneChâteau et remparts de la cité de Carcassonne

Sub navigation

 
 
Achetez vos billets en ligne
 
 

print_this_page

Discover the ramparts and the château of the Counts of Carcassonne, lying in the heart of the city. They are Gallo-Roman and medieval masterpieces of military architecture on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Explore one of the largest fortified towns in Europe, and one of the best conserved thanks to restoration work carried out by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

Visiting the château of the Counts and the ramparts of the city of Carcassonne

• The functional beauty of military architecture. There are remarkable views over the surrounding countryside from the three kilometres of ramparts, with two fortified enclosures (4th and 13th century), four gateways, 52 towers, and barbicans.

• The Middle Ages rediscovered. The château of the Counts of Carcassonne, the basilica of Saint-Nazaire, and the roads in the city all show what medieval Carcassonne was like. A collection of sculptures from buildings in the city and its surroundings is on show in the medieval rooms. A film incorporating 3D computer-generated images projected onto a big-screen completes the visit.

Understanding the ramparts and château of the Counts of the city of Carcassonne

• A key town in the building of the nation. The town was seat of power of the Counts of Carcassonne and then of the famous Trencavel family. It was then the seat of the king's seneschal once the viscountcy was transferred to the French royal estate. It was an impregnable stronghold and guaranteed the lasting peace between France and Aragon.

• One of the largest restoration projects in Europe. By the 19th century the town was on the verge of being demolished and was used as a stone quarry. Viollet-le-Duc and those who carried on with his work spent over 50 years giving the town a medieval appearance. Extraneous buildings which had sprung up between the two enclosures were demolished, the towers were covered in lauze, the local grey slates, and the decorations were restored. In the 1960s the Gallo-Roman towers were topped with tiles.

 

 
 
 

Bottom menu