06/19/2026
A must do if you visit the South of France❤️
Carcassonne often feels unreal when you first see it, but its walls have been standing here since Roman times. By the 13th century, it had become one of the most important fortified cities in southern France during the Albigensian Crusade. Today, it is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws millions of visitors each year.
What surprised me most is how much of what you see today comes from a 19th century restoration. The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc rebuilt large parts of the city after years of neglect, sometimes making design choices that were not typical for this region. Those pointed slate roofs you notice are one example and are more common in northern France.
If you go, timing makes a big difference. Midday gets crowded fast, especially in summer, so early morning or evening is a better experience. Walking along the outer ramparts gives you a clearer sense of the scale and why this place held such strategic importance for centuries.
Just across the river, the lower town feels completely different. It is quieter, more local, and often overlooked, but worth the time if you want to see how people actually live here today.
📍 Carcassonne, Occitanie
