"Lady Carcas, but no Cathar catharsis" Carcassonne by kokoryko

Carcassonne Travel Guide: 457 reviews and 1,342 photos

arriving to the cité from south - Carcassonne
arriving to the cité from south
Carcassonne

Nothing psychoanalytic here, just playing with words, and discovering an amazing fortified city and a beautiful area where Cathars made history and are present, if not really, at least they left beautiful remains and they are still remembered in this area of Languedoc.
Let us discover here a beautiful fortified city and a bit of its history and discover few citadels of vertigo, awesome %L[http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/a05dc/1eabc/ ]“Cathar castles”%L*, sentinels on the ridges of the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Can you imagine that the fortified city was three times bigger in middle age? The impressive fortifications we discover nowadays are the ones of the inner city at the time; there was an outer wall, 200-300 meters outside encompassing what was called the bourg (the suburbs at the time), and we see in some way the city centre only today!
This place draws thousands of tourist visits every year, and it is probably the best place in France where you can have a real insight on civil and military architecture and city design, and most of visitors are enchanted after their visit here.
Viscount Trencavel ruled the city and the surrounding lands during the Crusade against the Cathars, and his city was a stronghold of that faith. Trencavel surrendered after a short siege by French (Franc, Northern, sent by the king of France) Simon de Montfort, and we owe him in some way that the city has not been destroyed during the Cathar wars, and that it can be visited now, even a number of restoration works were undertaken during the centuries.
Walk in the streets
If you visit southern France, and specially Languedoc, it would be a bit a pity not spending at least a few hours in this city, plunge back into medieval times, stroll in the narrow streets, walk on the ramparts, meet some buskers (music, theatre), or just sit in some corner under the shade of the high walls and try to imagine how it was 800 years ago.
Walking in the city offers beautiful perspectives, or wide views over the countryside, and you can enjoy all sorts of atmospheres, from the crowded central place and the nearby streets with cafés and souvenir shops, or just be almost alone for thinking, dreaming and even enjoy quietude under the high stone walls.

A resurrected Cathar city
Cathars chased from the Cité (British Library) - Carcassonne

Cathars chased from the Cité (British Library)

This famous miniature shows the end of the siege of Carcassone when the inhabitants leave their city on 15th of August 1209, after Raimond-Roger Trencavel negotiated for their life when he surrendered; he knew that if he fought, he would loose and the Francs would kill all the inhabitants, as they did three weeks before in Beziers where 20.000 inhabitants lost their lives.
People of Carcassone have been chased from their city which was then plundered, but not destroyed; only their lives was what they could keep. Trencavel died few months later in the prison of his beloved city. . . . .
Time is not a friend of human constructions, and several restorations had to be undertaken to “save” this city.
French National Monuments Architect Viollet Le Duc, in the 19th century, who, alerted by local historian Cros-Mareyvieille undertook the most important renovation works which, if controversial about the style, at least saved the city. Much of what we see today, specially the main gates and the central fortress, we owe him.
My page here is only a very modest introduction to the Cité.

It is very touristy. . . .
Old house corbelling - Carcassonne

Old house corbelling

Carcassone is one of the most visited places in France (only the castle has more than 350.000 paying visitors per year) and of course you will meet lots of fellow tourists strolling in the medieval streets, sitting at the cafés, walking on the ramparts; it is the fate of famous places, but even here, there are beautiful quiet places to visit, and there is a lot to discover on beaten paths and far from them. The Cité is a jewel, and walking here takes you back in history, is has a real beauty, in the landscape and from the inside, walk everywhere, you will enjoy this place.
No catharsis. . . I won’t get purified from my passions,. . . . . and Lady Carcas? Who was she? A few words about this clever woman in one of the tips. . . . .

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Beautiful old city
  • Cons:Crowded!
  • In a nutshell:A dive in the past
  • Intro Updated Mar 12, 2010
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Reviews (12)

Pierre Cros Mareyvielle - Carcassonne Look around in the Cité Things to Do (10)

And see all details everywhere. . . . . and also make a stop in front of the monument dedicated to Jean Pierre Cros... more travel advice

Lady Carcass - Carcassonne Clever Lady Carcas Things to Do (10)

Some say it is a true story, some say it is a legend; truth is as usual somewhere in between. Lady Carcas, . . . . . . .... more travel advice

Entrance of the castle - Carcassonne The castle Things to Do (10)

High walls, topped with crenels, towers, machicolations, bartizans, arrow slits. . . if you did not have enough, you can... more travel advice

BOOOOOOOO - Carcassonne Kids on the ramparts Warnings and Dangers (1)

No, it is not about taking care of the kids when walking on the ramparts where of course you have to be careful, as... more travel advice

Comments (5)

  • Reply
    Durfun's Profile Photo
    Jun 12, 2011 at 3:51 AM

    Fantastic page here. Love the way you explain each numbered pic; nice touch. Merci beaucoup ;-) BTW did the Moors eat pork?? I guess Islam wasn't born yet..

  • Reply
    hunterV's Profile Photo
    Dec 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM

    Hello, Hermann! Your page is really impressive as well as this place and France on the whole.... Viva la France! :-)

  • Reply
    tiabunna's Profile Photo
    Dec 5, 2010 at 6:01 AM

    We really enjoyed our visit to Carcassonne. You mention that it was larger in mediaeval times, but we found it impressive even now. Luckily we visited outside the European holiday season.

  • Reply
    Bwana_Brown's Profile Photo
    Mar 13, 2010 at 8:29 AM

    Hermann, Carcassonne looks and sounds like a very historic and scenic place to visit - even if it is a bit busy! I loved your photos and descriptions of the amazing fortifications that have survived the many centuries since the city fell.

  • Reply
    HEMG59's Profile Photo
    Mar 12, 2010 at 7:34 PM

    I shall visit this place some day ! Just love it ..... interesting info, merci ! Hello from Mexico....

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