FRANCE // Carcassonne's concentric walled city (La Cité) is a fairy-tale vision of a medieval castle that has been a Unesco World Heritage site since 1997. Perched on a rocky hilltop in the Languedoc region and bristling with battlements and conical turrets, the fortified city looks like something out of a children's storybook. The mystical atmosphere is turned up a notch at night when the old city is illuminated and glowing. In summer, La Cité's cobbled streets and squares spill over with souvenir shops, cafes and huge tourist crowds. To savour its charms, cross the moat to enter its main gate of Porte Narbonnaise at dawn, or linger at dusk when it belongs to its few inhabitants and visitors staying within the ramparts.

Why is Carcassonne famous?

Carcassonne Castle is the best preserved medieval castle in the world and has served as the inspiration for countless castles invented in legends. Carcassonne has magnificent ramparts with watchtowers, a quay, a drawbridge and high defenses built on top of the hill.

Is Carcassonne, France worth visiting?

Is Carcassonne worth visiting? The answer is a resounding yes! Apart from visiting the fortifications and the old medieval castle, the city has a bustling market and many interesting museums to visit.

Is Carcassonne the biggest castle in Europe?

Be sure to spend plenty of time taking in all the beauty behind the high walls of this once fortified city. Carcassonne Castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The fully enclosed castle is the largest in all of Europe.

What happened in Carcassonne?

Carcassonne became famous for its role in the Albigensian Crusades when it was a stronghold of the Occitan Cathars. In August 1209, the papal crusader Abbot Arno Amalric forced his citizens to surrender.

What language is spoken in Carcassonne?

Is Carcassonne expensive?

What is an interesting fact about Carcassonne?