Carcassonne, France

In southern France , in the province of Languedoc, everything is literally imbued with the spirit of the times. In these parts also there is the most interesting sight of France - the castle of Carcassonne. It is here that the tourist has a unique chance to make a journey in time and plunge into the turbulent waters of medieval history, because the walls of the castle of Carcassonne remember much. This fortress is even called a "book in stone", as it can trace the history of military construction from the ancient Romans to the 14th century.

Carcassonne, France - a bit of history

For the first time the mention of Carcassonne can be found in the annals dating back to the 1st century BC. But archaeological finds clearly show: the first settlement here was founded a century earlier by the Gauls. Since their reign, the city has repeatedly passed from hand to hand: the fortress of Carcassonne was owned by both the Franks and Visigoths, and the Saracens and Romans. In the 12th century, the city became the property of the Tranquel family, thanks to which it became the refuge of the Albigensian heretics. Strictly speaking, thanks to the Albigenses, the Lower City appeared in Carcassonne, in which life is also actively bubbling these days. The old Upper Town gradually turned into a unique museum, so well preserved thanks to the restoration, carried out in the late 19th century.

Carcassonne, France - attractions

Of course, in such an amazing place as Carcassonne there is something to see.

First, it is the Upper City, also called the Citadel or the Cité, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than fifty towers, huge walls, moats - all this can be seen in the Upper City. You can enter it through the Narbonne Gate, dating back to the 13th century. The first attraction of Carcassonne, his business card is waiting for tourists already on the bridge leading to the Citadel, or rather on one of its columns. It's about the statue of a woman with a sly smile. This is none other than the lady of Carcass, in honor of which, in fact, the city and got its name. As the legend says, it was the ingenuity and sharp mind of this person that helped the city to save itself from the conquest by the troops of Charlemagne. True or not, today no one will say for sure. But from wishing to be imprinted in the photo with the lady of Carcass there is no enduring. Photographed with the lady of Carcassus, it is worth going on a journey through the narrow streets of a medieval fortress. One of these streets will certainly lead to the Cathedral of Saint Nazaría, whose building preserved the imprint of all the epochs that it survived. And to survive the cathedral had a lot, because it was built in the far 11th century. In the cathedral there are unique antique stained-glass windows. In the Upper City is also located the Archaeological Museum of Carcassonne, some of the exposition of which is dedicated to tombstones delivered here from ancient cemeteries. Presumably, these plates crowned the burials of Cathars and they belong to the 12-14 centuries. Lovers of military history are unlikely to be able to pass by the fortifications on the territory of the Upper City. There is also the Museum of the Inquisition, for it is on this land that the history of Catholic ecclesiastical courts began. In the museum you can see the instruments of torture and the place of imprisonment of criminals. Small travelers will be able to tickle the nerves in the Haunted House, located just next to the Museum.

A lot of walking up the Upper City, you can move to the city of Nizhny, or in other words - Bastide. You can get here by following the Old Bridge, dating from the 14th century. The lower city also contains a lot of interesting things: it is the Cathedral of St. Michael, and the buildings of the times of St. Louis, and the fountain in the form of Poseidon, and the Museum of Arts.