CARCASSONNE HOTEL DEALS

CARCASSONNE BREAKS

Carcassonne evokes thoughts of bold nights, fair damsels and troubadours—truly an enticing travel destination.

Enchanting and romantic, Carcassonne is a fine example of a fortified town. The city is Europe’s greatest fortress city that emerges against a setting of snow-capped Pyrenees.

Built high on top of a rocky hill, Carcassonne comes complete with crenellated walls, 52 pointed turrets and a striking castle that immediately propels one straight back to medieval fantasy. When flooded with light at night, the city of Carcassonne exudes a fairy tale charm. An evening stroll in this floodlit citadel is a most magical experience.

Carcassonne has had its fair share of bloody history. The city was an object of assault in the middle Ages by battering rams and catapults, flaming arrows even a mobile tower as inspired by the Trojan horse. Carcassonne today however, is flooded with visitors from all over browsing in many of the city’s tacky gift shops.

Carcassonne is split into two towns, La Bastide St. Louis or La Ville Basse, the Lower City and the older, more redolent medieval La Cite, the walled citadel. La Bastide St. Louis has nothing much going on, Cite however is one major attraction.

Carcassonne was thought to be the oldest walled city in Europe and it was earmarked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

La Cite’s fortifications consist of a double line of ramparts with inner and outer walls. The citadel went all the back to the Roman times but the Visigoths, Franks and Moors had their own contributions to its fortifications. Much of what you see of the fortress today though is the restoration and rebuilding work of Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, a 19th century architect.

For those who have limited time to visit Carcassonne, one can visit and take a walk at La Cite’s ramparts however, if one has more time to linger, one can truly revel in the town’s medievalism with a guided tour of Carcassone’s inmost fortifications.
At Musee Lapidaire, one can revel in the extensive collection of archaeological stones and carvings that were unearthed during the historical restorations and excavations of the previous century.

Another significant monument in the fortifications of Carcassonne is the Basilique St. Nazaire at La Cite. The church dates back to the 11th to the 14th century and contains spectacular stained glass windows and a pair of rose medallions plus superb 360 views all across the surrounding countryside and the impressive Montagne Noir. The church has a Romanesque style nave while its choir and transept are designed as Gothic. Its organ is the oldest in Southwestern France dating all the way back to the 16th century. The Basilique St. Nazaire also houses the well-preserved 1266 tomb of Bishop Radulphe.

A fortress within a fortess, Chateau Comtal shares Carcassonne’s well bloody history with its own fair share of royal murders.

For those wanting to go deeper into Carcassonne’s history, the Musee des Memoires du Moven Age records Carcassonne’s traumatic battles, sieges and feuds. The museum includes a video that portrays a thousand years of medieval life in Carcassonne as well as exhibitions that depict the lifestyle and values of Carcassonne long ago.

Nightlife at Carcassonne shines the spotlight on rue Omar-Sarraut in La Bastide and La Cite’s place Marcou. At La Bulle, the night explodes with tunes of rock and techno that keeps the place hopping all the way up to 4 am in the morning. Another popular disco is Le Black Bottom which plays tunes to different kinds of dance music to party the night away.
When it comes to shopping, Carcassone has two different shopping areas. The major streets for shopping in Carcassonnne’s lower city are rue Clemenceau and rue de Verdun. The walled city of Carcassonne is also filled with tiny stores and boutiques where great finds of antiques, local arts and crafts and clothing can be found.

Other stores in the City that make for a great shopping experience include Cellier des Vigneronnes where one can find an extensive selection of regional wines ranging from simple table wines to those that were honoured the distinction of Appellation d’Origine Controlee.
Great places to shop for antiques at Carcassonne include Mme Faye-Nunez for antique furniture, Antiquites Safi for paintings and art and Dominique Sarraute for antique firearms.

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