Carcassonne

Visit Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon

Fortified town of Carcassonne is a National Monument of France. This page looks at the National Monument visitor information - see Carcassonne for more local information

An exceptional, fortified site. Carcassonne was settled as early as the 6th century BC and later became an important Roman town. It was fortified in the 4th century and was a strategic site in the Middle Ages. It took on its definitive shape in the 13th century with the king’s decision to construct the distinctive double-walled ramparts and extend the castle. The city was restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century and is a testimony to 1,000 years of military architecture and 2,600 years of history. See a 12-minute film combining 3-D images and close-up footage; walk along the galleries, the fortified walls and the north ramparts; discover the stone museum and many other attractions. Designated world heritage site by UNESCO.

Address & Contact

Château Comtal et remparts de la cité de Carcassonne 1, rue Viollet-le-Duc 11000 Carcassonne

tél. : (33) (0)4 68 11 70 70 fax : (33) (0)4 68 11 70 71

Prices

Adults: 8€ Concessions: 5€

Opening times

April to September: from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. October to March: from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission 45 minutes before closing time.

Other dates closed

January 1, May 1, November 1 and 11, December 25

More Information

• See Places to visit near Fortified town of Carcassonne for other places to visit nearby
• See Fortified town of Carcassonne on the National Monuments website.

The above information is kindly provided by (and copyright) National Monuments of France.

Photos of Carcassonne (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Carcassonne: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*; 'Historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé);

Suggested places to visit near Carcassonne, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Rennes-le-Chateau 32km; Rennes-les-Bains 33km; Castelnaudary 35km; Minerve 35km; Camon 38km; Revel 40km; Aigne 40km; Gorges de l'Aude 40km; Quillan 40km; Mirepoix 41km; Bize-Minervois 43km; Castres 44km; Fontfroide Abbey 45km; Narbonne 53km; Saint-Chinian 53km; Sigean Nature Reserve 54km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Carcassonne

Carcassonne tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Gouffre de Cabrespine - site of natural beauty (18km) : Gorges de Galamus - site of natural beauty (43km) : Abbaye de Fontfroide (Narbonne) - religious monument (44km) : Jardin de l'Évêché - remarkable garden (45km) : Haut-Languedoc - regional natural parc (47km) : Fontaine Intermittente de Fontestorbes - site of natural beauty (48km) : Parc aux Bambous - remarkable garden (50km) : Fraisse-sur-Agout - ville fleurie 4* (57km) :

French version: see Carcassonne (Francais)