Carcassonne, a medieval town

The cité is still inhabited today. it has 52 towers and 2 concentric enclosures add up to a total of 3 km of ramparts and a lot's of other monuments to see.

St nazarius' basilica  Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire and Saint Celse. The edifice was completed in the first half of the 12th century. In 1898 it was granted the title of Basilica by Pope Leo XIII.

The castle  The ultimate defence, the castel was built in the 12th century by the Trencavels, Vicomtes de Carcassonne.

Narbonnaise gate  The Narbonnaise Gate is the most impressive assembly remaining from this period: the two huge towers are shaped like a spike. Entry was barred with a chain. There was a double lock consisting of murder-holes and a portcullis.

Aude gate  At the bottom of the escarpment of the Cité, a wall defended the borough on the banks of the Aude. This wall dates back to the 13th century. It prevented the ennemy from keeping between the Aude and the Cité as it lay within a stone's throw from the towers.

Théâtre de la cité  A landmark in the Cité's Festival, the theatre is also a monument laden with History.

Jousting ground  This space located between the 2 walls and closely following the hill slope, was levelled in the 13th century as the 2nd wall was being built (access through the lists). Walking through it, you can mentally span twenty centuries of history and assess the various characters of military architecture.

The town wall  The medieval walled town of Carcassonne is unusual for its double ring of walls 3km long, including 52 towers. The first, or external, wall was built during the reign of Louis IX when the town was part of the royal estates, becoming the seat of the Senelschalsy. During that same period, earthworks were carried out in the jousting grounds (the space between the two sets of walls) and the Gallo-Roman, or inner, wall was strengthened. Much of the Gallo-Roman wall is still clearly visible today. It consists of small, regular bonding with brick stringing. The remainder of the inner wall dates from the reign of Philip the Fair (13th century). Free access to the 'lices" to walk between the two ramparts. Visit of the inner wall only with guided tours from the viscount's castle.