Carcassonne

Between the perfectly preserved outer and inner ring walls

Between the perfect;ly preserved outer and inner ring walls

On May 16, 2016, we drove back from Barcelona where we had visited the Sagrada Família. By popular request, we chose to make the slight detour and visit Carcassonne, a fortified medieval city that features perfectly preserved ring walls. We had been in Carcassonne before, in May of 1992 with our then next-door-neighbors. Hard to believe that almost a quarter century had gone by since our last visit!

We arrived shortly before noon, parked the car at the bottom of the town, and walked up to the fortified city for a first glimpse. A little over half an hour later, we were back at the bottom for a tasty meal at the Restaurant le 37 which had been recommended to us and did not disappoint. After lunch, we split up and explored the fortified city individually. My interest, of course, was to take the pictures for this web page.

We met up by the car again at 4:30 p.m. for the drive back to Cannes. Our GPS rerouted us because of extremely heavy traffic and ti consequently took forever to get home, but that's another story.

Click on any image to see a larger (2100 x 1400 pixel) version!

The fortified city seen from near the 'Pont Vieux' 'Rue Trivalle'

The fortified city seen from near the Pont Vieux
Rue Trivalle


'Le 37' where we had lunch (recommended!) On the way to the upper town

Le 37 where we had lunch (recommended!)
On the way to the upper town


The two ring walls of the fortified city Looking along the outer ring wall

The two ring walls of the fortified city
Looking along the outer ring wall


'La Porte Narbonnaise', the main gate The walkway through the 'Porte Narbonnaise'

La Porte Narbonnaise, the main gate
The walkway through the Porte Narbonnaise


The view from the 'Porte Narbonnaise' Crossing the moat Entering the fortified city

The view from the Porte Narbonnaise
Crossing the moat
Entering the fortified city


'Rue Cros Mayrevieille' 'Rue du Tresau' 'Château Comtal' gate

Rue Cros Mayrevieille
Rue du Tresau
Château Comtal gate


The 'Château Comtal' (Count's Castle)... ...dates from the 12th century.

The Château Comtal (Count's Castle)...
...dates from the 12th century.


The castle's courtyard On the 'Rue Viollet le Duc'

The castle's courtyard
On the Rue Viollet le Duc


These horses pull a wagon for those who prefer not to walk The 'Grand Puits' (great well) was built in the 14th century

These horses pull a wagon for those who prefer not to walk
The Grand Puits (great well) was built in the 14th century


On the 'Place du château' Part of the inner wall off the 'Rue du Plo'

On the Place du château
On the Place du château


On the 'Place Marcou' Part of the inner wall off the 'Rue du Plo'

On the Place Marcou
Part of the inner wall off the Rue du Plo


Looking through a crenel 'Rue du Petit-Puits' 'Rue Saint-Jean'

Looking through a crenel
Rue du Petit-Puits
Rue Saint-Jean


The 'Basilique Saint-Nazaire' The 'Place Saint-Nazaire'

The Basilique Saint-Nazaire
The Place Saint-Nazaire


Tourists resting on the 'Place Saint-Nazaire' On the 'Place Marcou'

Tourists resting on the Place Saint-Nazaire
On the Place Marcou


Fortifications Façade in the fortified city

Fortifications
Façade in the fortified city


Looking over the outer wall to the north Looking over the outer wall to the northeast

Looking over the outer wall to the north
Looking over the outer wall to the northeast


Between the inner and outer walls Between the inner and outer walls

Between the inner and outer walls
Between the inner and outer walls


The two walls by the 'Porte Narbonnaise' Part of the outer wall

The two walls by the Porte Narbonnaise
Part of the outer wall


The two walls by the 'Porte Narbonnaise' Musicians in medieval attire by the 'Porte Narbonnaise'

The two walls by the Porte Narbonnaise
Musicians in medieval attire by the Porte Narbonnaise


A lively performance! A sight designed to discourage attackers One of the lovely Carcassonne street lights

A lively performance!
A sight designed to discourage attackers
One of the lovely Carcassonne street lights


One last look at the outer wall... ...before heading down on the 'Rue Gustave Nadaud'.

One last look at the outer wall...
...before heading down on the Rue Gustave Nadaud.


The photos on this page were taken on May 16, 2016.



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