Nestled in the heart of France’s Languedoc region, Carcassonne is like something out of a fairy tale. With its stunning medieval fortress, charming cobblestone streets, and a rich tapestry of history, the Medieval City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers visitors a captivating journey into the past. In this post, I’ll share our latest adventure in this magical place, showcasing the must-see sights for a fantastic family day out.
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What’s Carcassonne Famous For
This destination is mainly known for the unique Carcassonne Medieval City, the Cité de Carcassonne. This special spot is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most famous landmarks in France. It has a fascinating history that stretches back over 2,500 years.
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Once a Roman settlement, Carcassonne has seen knights, battles, and legends. The towering walls and tall towers are like something straight out of a fairy tale and were built to keep the medieval city safe.
Carcassonne is also the largest medieval walled city in Europe and was a stronghold for the Occitan Cathars during the Albigensian Crusades. The fortress we see today was built in the 13th century and restored by famous French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.
Carcassonne Board Game
Carcassonne is not only a fascinating town with a rich history but also shares its name with one of my favourite board games. In the Carcassonne board game, players get to be tile-laying wizards, building their own landscapes filled with medieval towns and cities, roads, and fields.
I decided to visit Carcassonne because of this board game, and the fame of the Cité de Carcassonne is close to the game’s popularity. You can find the board game and many expansions in almost every shop around the medieval city.
If you want to try the game before going to Carcassonne, you can find the Carcassonne Board Game on Amazon. It’s a delightful way to spend time as a family, bond with children and unleash their creativity.
Exploring the Cité de Carcassonne
The Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne, or Cité de Carcassonne, is an incredible landmark to explore. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this medieval town is filled with adventure and fun, making it a fantastic destination for families.
With its impressive 52 towers and double concentric walls stretching over 3 kilometres, the city truly feels like stepping into a fairy tale. You can enter for free through the Narbonnaise Gate or the Aude Gate and explore much of the Medieval City without any cost, day or night.
Taking a guided tour or a VR experience offered by the Tourist Office will allow you to uncover Carcassonne’s fascinating history. The city was once forgotten and fell into ruin before being beautifully restored and becoming one of the main tourist treasures in the region!
The entire Cité is pedestrian-friendly, making it perfect for families. Kids will love wandering the cobblestone streets, exploring the ramparts, and discovering secret nooks and crannies. There are fun activities just for them, such as interactive exhibits at the Medieval Camp, where they can imagine being knights and princesses of old.
What to Do in Carcassonne for Free
The Fortified City of Carcassonne is on a hill, so that you can enjoy amazing free views from all around. The charming old town of Carcassonne is also perfect for families looking for a leisurely day out without spending a dime.
You can wander through its lovely narrow streets filled with vibrant shops. Many of these shops offer handmade crafts and local treats, making it a great spot for window shopping or trying out some delightful goodies. It truly is one of the best free activities you can do with your family in Carcassonne.
St. Nazaire Basilica
The beautiful St. Nazaire Basilica, known as the Jewel of the City, dates back to the 11th to 14th centuries. It blends Romanesque and Gothic styles and features breathtaking stained glass windows, some of the finest in the Midi region.
Mass is at 11 am every Sunday, but you can explore the Basilica for free during the day.
The Medieval Camp
Inside the Medieval City of Carcassonne, the Medieval Camp invites kids of all ages to explore many fun activities, workshops, and fascinating demonstrations showcasing medieval arts.
Best of all, access to the Cité Médiévale is free, so you can see all the demonstrations, but there might be a small fee for kids to join in on some of the activities. However, before booking any activities for your child, remember they are all in French.
The Old Bridge
Another free highlight is the Old Bridge, which leads you straight into the Cité. This beautiful medieval bridge, dating back to the 14th century, is a pedestrian-only pathway. It was the only connection between the Bastide Saint Louis and the Medieval City until the 19th century, and it’s a lovely walk that adds to the adventure.
Museums and Cultural Experiences in Carcassonne
The highlight of any visit to Carcassonne is undoubtedly the Cité de Carcassonne, the Medieval fortified city that boasts spectacular ramparts and impressive medieval architecture. While you can roam freely inside the walled city, you need a ticket for some attractions and museums.
I recommend buying in advance your Castle and Ramparts tickets on GetYourGuide or Tiqets to secure your spot. In fact, the city can be super busy during holidays and weekends, and the Castle and Ramparts are very popular spots for everyone.
The Cité de Carcassonne also boasts several museums worth exploring, such as the Museum of the Inquisition. You can buy tickets for the museums of Carcassonne separately at each museum.
Museums are pretty expensive and small, so there isn’t any queue like for the Castle and the Ramparts, making it easy for families to get a ticket without booking in advance.
There was also a tourist card called Carca’Pass, but at the time of writing, the dedicated website doesn’t work, so I am not sure that the Carca’Pass is still a thing. If you’re interested, check with the tourist office.
I didn’t buy the tourist card because I wasn’t sure we wanted to visit all the attractions in one day, as it’s always great to have flexibility as a family.
Visiting the Castle and Walking the Ramparts
With the Castle and Ramparts ticket, you can explore the Castle of the Medieval City along with its regular exhibitions and events. Located in the heart of the medieval quarter of Carcassonne, the fortress was built in the 12th century and has been modified over the years.
Inside, you’ll find mostly carved stones and sculptures, but you can also enjoy the panoramic views from the Castle. However, based on my experience, kids can sometimes get bored inside unless they’re really into medieval things.
The fun for younger visitors often comes after touring the Castle, strolling along the outer ramparts, where you can enjoy even more breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. My son loved to walk along the ramparts, especially where there were defensive posts.
The entrance fee for the Castle and Ramparts is €11 (plus the eventual booking fee), but it’s free for anyone under 26 for the unguided visit, making it still convenient for families. If you want to enhance your experience with an audio guide or a live guide, there’s an extra fee that you can check directly at the ticket counter.
If you really want to visit the Castle and Ramparts, book in advance, especially during holidays and weekends. The small booking fee ensures access during the most crowded days!
Exploring History in VR at the Tourist Office
To discover more about the Cité de Carcassonne, I recommend watching the Virtual Reality film by the Tourist Office, which is available in several languages. With the VR headset, you can dive into the Carcassonne’s fascinating history, from the creation of the Oppidum to the present day, exploring the Middle Ages and its later decommissioning.
Watching the VR film costs €5 and it is a new and interesting way to uncover the story of the medieval City of Carcassonne, which, while not entirely original, is primarily a thoughtful reconstruction to preserve its rich history.
Although the website mentions that this animation isn’t suitable for children under 8, my son tried it at 6 and absolutely loved it! If your children are interested but apparently too young, I recommend checking with the tourist office.
The Museum of Inquisition
The Museum of the Inquisition is housed in a charming 17th-century building. It showcases a collection of instruments of torture spanning from the 12th century to the French Revolution. I didn’t visit it since I am not interested in this topic, and the price isn’t the most approachable either.
However, the museum also offers insights into the characters who played significant roles during this period, along with the history of the main Cathar Castles, a key part of the Inquisition’s story. The adult full rate is €11, while children can enjoy it for €8.5.
Haunted House
The Haunted House features around fifteen themed rooms designed to resemble an old 300m2 mansion, where you’ll encounter some intriguing phenomena, apparently without violence or bloodshed.
However, the museum advises sensitive people, pregnant women, and those with heart conditions to avoid the visit. The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes.
School Museum
The School Museum allow everyone to step back in time and experience the atmosphere of a local school during the 3rd and 4th Republic, an exciting period in the history of primary education.
With five rooms to explore, the museum showcases a variety of teaching resources used in schools from 1880 to the 1960s. Admission is quite cheap for Carcassonne, just €4 for adults and €3 for children, so if you’re a teacher or a student, maybe it’s worth a visit.
What to Eat in Carcassonne
The Medieval City is full of restaurants where you can savor local dishes as well as Spanish-inspired cuisine because of the many Spanish tourists who visit.
If you want to experience the local flavor, I highly recommend trying cassoulet, an iconic dish of the region. You can find it served in nearly every restaurant.
Additionally, don’t miss the chance to taste dry liver sausage, which is mostly available at the city’s butcher shops, and Languedoc style snails, often found in restaurants.
How to Move Inside Carcassonne
The best way to explore Carcassonne is to walk through its streets. Carcassonne is a very walkable city and incredibly scenic, making it really amazing to wander around to this listed UNESCO Heritage site.
You can also explore the ramparts with the Medieval Carriage: a 20 minutes ride with a historical commentary in a 14-seat open carriage trained by horses. I don’t recommend this carriage because of animal exploitation, for this reason we choose to move on foot.
Alternatively, you can hop on the Citadel’s Little Train for a captivating history tour. Starting at the Porte Narbonnaise, you’ll get to enjoy a picturesque route and discover the impressive defensive system of the Citadel of Carcassonne, complete with its 52 towers.
How to Reach Carcassonne
Getting to Carcassonne is easy because there are good train and bus connections from major cities like Toulouse and Montpellier. If you’re flying in, both Carcassonne Airport and the nearby Toulouse Airport make it convenient to reach the city.
Driving to Carcassonne from within France
If you’re planning a drive to Carcassonne from the nearby cities, here’s some helpful information on travel times and distances to get you there smoothly:
- Toulouse is about 1 hour drive (93 km) if you choose the toll route, or 1 hour 45 minutes (105 km) without the tolls
- Narbonne is just 47 minutes (60 km) with tolls, or 58 minutes (57 km) if you prefer to skip them
- Montpellier takes around 1 hour 42 minutes (154 km) with tolls, or a little longer at 2 hours 6 minutes (164 km) without tolls
You can easily rent a car at any airport or big city. Check the rate on DiscoverCars or Rentalcars.
Trains to Carcassone
Trains are an efficient and budget-friendly way to reach Carcassonne and travel around France. The local train station, known as Gare de Carcassonne, features three platforms and receives around five trains every hour on average.
The French national railway company, SNCF, operates the follow train options you can choose to reach Carcassonne:
- TGV train France’s intercity high-speed rail service
- Intercités a express train service operating on the traditional rail network
- TER (Transport Express Régional) is slower and connects local destinations.
I highly recommend using the TrainLine to book your train tickets in France. It’s super easy to use and collects all your tickets in one place, even if you’re traveling through different Countries. Plus, I find it much more user-friendly than the local railway websites.
Once you arrive at the station, it’s just a half-hour walk through the new town to reach the sights. There are shuttles available but they don’t run very frequently. Alternatively, you can hop on the tourist train for about €7 for adults and €5 for children. If you’re guessing, we chose to stroll to the Cité de Carcassonne on foot and enjoy the walk along the city.
Buses to Carcassonne
A very cheap way to get around France is by using intercity buses. These are a budget-friendly alternative to trains, although they might take a bit longer.
Some intercity bus companies operating in Carcassonne, France, are FlixBus and Blablacar Bus. Here are some popular bus destinations to/from Carcassonne:
- Toulouse, France, has a travel time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Tickets start from just €5 one way!
- Montpellier has a travel time of around 2 hours and tickets start at €8 one way
- Barcelona, Spain will take about 5 hours, with tickets starting from €25.
I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences with FlixBus, and I have to say I find their inefficiencies and refund policies really frustrating. However, you can occasionally stumble upon some really great prices that might make them worth considering.
Flying to Carcassonne
The nearest airport to Carcassonne is Carcassonne Airport (airport code CCF) also known as Carcassonne Salvaza Airport, just a short 3.2 km trip from the city. The low cost airline Ryanair operates out of this airport, connecting to several destinations across Europe, including Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Other nearby airports include:
- Toulouse Airport (airport code TLS) 91.1 km away
- Montpellier Airport (airport code MPL) 136.2 km away
I flew to Toulouse and get to Carcassonne on a day trip using public transport because I wanted to explore Toulouse as well. Check Skyscanner to find the best flights to Carcassonne or Toulouse.
Tips for Travelers
The best times to visit Carcassonne are in late spring or early autumn when the weather is lovely and the crowds are a bit lighter. Remember that Carcassonne tends to get quite busy on Sundays and during the holidays.
Most shop and restaurant owners in the Medieval City speak English, but learning basic French phrases is always appreciated in France. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but not everyone you meet will necessarily speak it.
If you make an effort to say a bit of French, you’ll be greeted with a warmer smile than if you assume everyone knows English. However, with so many Spanish tourists around due to the nearby border, you might find it easier to find someone who speaks Spanish rather than English.
You can grab a Carcassonne map at the Tourist Office located within the city. The restaurants in Medieval City can be a bit pricey with average food. While you may not get a gourmet experience, you can still enjoy a delicious cassoulet.
I highly recommend checking out the bakery tucked away in the center of the Cité de Carcassonne; they have fantastic pastries and excellent Lavazza coffee, and you can sit and relax in their peaceful garden.
Where to Stay in Carcassonne
In Carcassonne, you can choose to stay inside or outside the Medieval City. In the former case, I suggest Appartements Pech Mary, a fully equipped flat with free parking a few minutes walk away. If you prefer a hotel, the Hotel de la Cité & Spa MGallery will give you an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, the Good Knight offers accommodation with a garden, private parking and a terrace at a more affordable price.
Why you should visit Carcassonne in France
Carcassonne is a charming medieval village in France that is totally worth a visit. It is more than just a destination; it provides a delightful step back in time, filled with stories and stunning sights to enchant your children.
In my opinion, this well-preserved historic city is an ideal spot for a relaxing weekend getaway with family and friends. Whether exploring the ramparts or tasting the local cuisine, you’ll leave with unforgettable memories of this unique town.
Feel free to share your thoughts about Carcassonne in the comments!