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Carcassonne France tourist information
Carcassonne is found in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is certainly one of the finest, and most interesting, towns in the region, if not in the whole of France. The town has a history dating back to the Cathar Wars, in which the town played a very important role.
Carcassonne is located 90 km (56 miles) south-east of Toulouse. It stands in the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central of France. Carcassonne is at the crossing of two major traffic routes in use since Antiquity: the route leading from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and that from the Massif Central to Spain, skirting the Pyrenees.
Carcassonne is separated into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. The fortress was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.
The main Cite is a fortress town, with double walls and strong fortifications surrounding the perfect medieval town.
Carcassonne today is a tourist trap, attracting great hordes of visitors in the summer, and rightly so. Despite all the tourist paraphernalia it remains a beautiful place. Ironically it was left to disrepair for centuries, and an order was given in 1849 that it should be demolished. This mobilised support for the town and restoration began a few years later, under the watchful (if haphazard) supervision of Viollet le Duc.
The renovation work is often accused of being 'overly perfect' and also out of keeping with the original structure, but that will only trouble you if you an an architectural enthusiast. For the rest of us, walking around the narrow streets of the town is a fascinating experience and step back in time.
Carcassonne: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
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Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Carcassonne
See the Visit Carcassonne section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Carcassonne car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Carcassonne
- Carcassonne World Heritage Site - Bastide town
- Lagrasse Most beautiful village
- Montolieu Pretty town of bookshops
- Saissac Town and cathar castle
- Limoux Small languedoc town
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Carcassonne, France
This Carcassonne tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
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