La Cité de Carcassonne, Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon

It’s difficult to have a bad day in Carcassonne

Just across the river is the ancient walled town, the largest city in Europe with its walls still intact. La Cité (Citadel in English), dates from before roman times. In 1209, a Catholic Crusader army besieged the walls during the early stages of the war against the Cathars.

Photo: The medieval walled Cité of Carcassonne

It’s straight out of Walt Disney with high battlements dominating a bend in the river. Inside is a medieval town with winding cobbled streets, lined by small shops and restaurants.

Beloved of film-makers, the Cité has hosted numerous productions. Its large complete fortified walls and medieval town make it a perfect set for period dramas. Carcassonne doubled for Nottingham in Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner.

Every year on Bastille Day, 14 July, Carcassonne provides the largest firework display in France. Starting around 10:30 in the evening, the entire medieval city is bathed in smoke and pyrotechnics. So popular is this show that crowds start forming in the early afternoon in order to secure the best vantage points on the Pont Neuf over the river Aude or on the ring road east of the hospital.


Photo: Bastille Day, 14 July - the biggest firework show in France

The modern main town straddles both the river Aude and the Canal du Midi. A long pedestrianised street, rue Georges Clemenceau, traverses the centre and boasts a wide range of shops, cafés and restaurants.

Summer sees the Carcassonne Festival from mid June to Mid August with the best of street performers, theatre, opera, dance, folk, jazz, blues and rock. Alongside the cream of french talent, this event attracts top acts from around the world. That 2010’s season included Bob Dylan, Motörhead, Simple Minds and the Cranberries is an indication of the festival’s quality.

Excavated during the 17th Century, the Canal du Midi links the river Garonne at Toulouse with the Mediterranean below Béziers. This completes a continuous waterday between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, avoiding the long stormy passage around the iberian peninsula.


Photo: Canadian visitors on Canal du Midi at Trèbes

Both the Cité de Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi are inscribed by UNESCO as world heritage sites.