Things to Do in Carcassonne, France

Quick facts: This legendary fortress features 52 towers surrounded by walls with a total length of approximately 3 kilometers. It underwent a massive restoration in the 19th century led by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, who added those distinctive conical roofs that give it its fairytale-like appearance today.

Highlights: Contrary to what visitors might think, the towering conical roofs on the towers did not originally exist in the Middle Ages. They were added by the architect Viollet-le-Duc during his restoration of the castle in the 19th century. Imagine standing at dusk as thousands of golden lights glow within the stone walls, transforming the fortified city into a scene that looks like a painting by a brilliant artist.

Quick facts: The outer wall of the palace extends for 3 kilometers and is surrounded by 52 watchtowers. The restoration of the palace in the 19th century was led by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, the same person who redesigned the Statue of Liberty.

Highlights: Inside the thick stone walls, you can place your ear against the wall and hear the roar of flowing water in the moat from the 13th century. The palace was never defeated in any siege throughout its history, thanks to its brilliant defensive design that forces attackers into a maze of narrow courtyards.

Quick facts: The Basilica of Saint Nazaire houses a 14th-century stained glass window that tells the story of the Cathar Crusade. The building stands on the site of an old church from the 6th century, and its walls feature carvings that tell stories of knights and kings.

Highlights: Beneath the feet of visitors in the nave of the church, there are three stone-carved tombs of 13th-century bishops. You can see their effigies dressed in full episcopal robes. In the northwest corner, a morning sunbeam illuminates the great rose window, which is 8 meters in diameter, casting its blue and red colors onto the Romanesque stone pillars.

Quick facts: The canal stretches for 240 kilometers and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It features 63 locks, 126 bridges, and 7 aqueducts, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

Highlights: What truly distinguishes this canal is the plane trees shading its banks, planted by order of Colbert in the 17th century to protect passersby from the heat of the sun. There are more than 40,000 of these trees, forming a enchanting green tunnel that gives boat rides a feeling akin to traveling through a moving oil painting.

Quick facts: The Narbonne Gate is the main entrance to the old walled city and represents one of the most prominent gateways of the medieval fortress. The twin towers of the gate stand about 40 meters tall, and it features its rare stone drawbridge that still functions to this day.

Highlights: Unlike other defensive gates, the Narbonne Gate was deliberately designed with two massive, asymmetrical towers to confuse attackers and make the target harder to bombard. When you stand between the two towers and look up, you will notice the holes for pouring boiling oil that are still clearly visible in the stone ceiling.

Quick facts: It consists of four ancient palaces connected to one another, making it one of the largest feudal complexes in southern France. The oldest of these palaces dates back to the 11th century and has withstood the wars of the Crusaders against the Cathars.

Highlights: Imagine four towering stone palaces on top of a single hill, each telling a different story about the age of knights and wars. When you stand between their walls on a foggy day, you feel as if the echoes of ancient battles still whisper in the wind.

Quick facts: Lake La Cavayère spans an area of 35 hectares and is surrounded by pine trees and vineyards that the Carcassonne region is known for. This artificial lake was formed in the 1970s and became the favorite refreshing destination for residents of Carcassonne and its visitors.

Highlights: A few meters beneath the warm water surface hides a kingdom of giant carp that swim alongside visitors. Some of these fish are over 20 years old and are considered among the largest fish in the lakes of southern France.