"Look around in the Cité" Carcassonne Things to Do Tip by kokoryko

And see all details everywhere. . . . . and also make a stop in front of the monument dedicated to Jean Pierre Cros Mareyvielle, the local scholar and historian who initiated the renovation of the Cité; he alerted Viollet Le Duc about the historical, archaeological and architectural marvels the Cité had and deserved to be saved. Carcassone could not do less than erect him a monument (picture 1) at the base of which is a representation of the Cité.
This monument is at one of the entrances of Place Marcou, the place where tourists have a rest under the shade of plane trees, sitting at one of the numerous cafés (picture 2). The locals take advantage of tourism, try to fit in the atmosphere and take a lot of freedom in naming their shops or cafés, like this one (picture 3), a real nonsense, as a trouvère is a northern (Franc) poet and court entertainer, equivalent to the southern, Languedocian troubadour, and a trouvère between “Cathar crosses” is even more a nonsense, but if that drag tourists. .. . well!
Shop signs are here and there nicely designed and fit in the environment (picture 4 and 5), and these little details give some charm to a visit in the Cité.