The trip around the fortifications with Carcassonne Castle tickets will stay with you forever because Gallo-Roman fortifications, with their horseshoe-shaped towers, offer a breathtaking view over the Montagne Noire to the north. The historic ramparts may be accessed by heading west, where you will find yourself with sweeping views of the Lower Town and the Pyrenees. At the turn of the twentieth century, trips to the fortifications became increasingly common. In 1908, the first visitors to Saint-Nazaire were able to use the area's first orientation table, located atop the tower of the city's gate.
It's like a fortress inside a fortress where protection comes from a barbican, a dry ditch, and an enclosure. With its central location and impressive architecture—eight two dungeons, towers, a watchtower, portcullises—the castle was first the seat of county authority and later the seat of royal authority. From hidden courtyards to soaring rooms decorated with Romanesque frescoes and adorned with priceless artifacts, this tour is a visual feast with your Carcassonne Castle tickets. Unusual sightings of hoardings. Viollet-leDuc rethought and reconstructed these wooden galleries in 1909–1910 so that they would better shield the walkway and provide effective defense for the walls' foundations.
A bishopric has existed in Carcassonne since at least 589, when the first bishop is documented. Around this time, the first cathedral may have been built somewhere close to the current-day route of Aquitaine. In the 10th century, it became a part of the City. Populus Urbanus II, who had traveled to France to spread the gospel of the Gregorian reform, visited Carcassonne in 1096 and had the city blessed. All three of the naves in this church date back to the Romanesque era: the main nave and both of the side naves. The work begun by Bishop Bernard de Capendu around 1270 resulted in a splendid example of radiant Gothic, which was completed in the 13th and 14th centuries. All of Gothic's meaning is encased in its use of stone, glass, and light. The transept's two rose windows, which face each other, are a stunning example. Time's rose window, located to the left of the altar, depicts the Virgin Mary at its hub; as the wheel revolves, she acts as a guide for the elements that orbit her. Christ is the focal point of the classic rose window on the right, which appears to be blocked in the middle by two glass spandrels. The transept's crucial juncture lies at the intersection of these two epochs, and you can view it in its full glory with the Carcassonne tickets.
People seem to be everywhere in the Cité's streets with the shaded café terraces on Place Marcou are always crowded. Take a short detour with your Carcassonne tickets and you'll find yourself in a quiet square with a well in the middle or an alley lined with medieval-style homes. The Theater, where the Inquisition once held court, stands just beyond the restaurants, shops, and artisans that line the promenade.
The cloister of Saint-Nazaire Cathedral, before it was decided to turn it into a theater in June 1908, is now a thriving vineyard and orchard. These days, open-air theaters are all the rage, and the plan can be implemented in a short amount of time. On July 26, 1908, the first performance had actors from the Comédie Française put on a memorable performance, the crowd surged forward, and the show was a success despite being somewhat athletic for the audience. Every summer (except during wartime), the "Théâtre Antique de la Cité" hosts a series of performances. The theater in Carcassonne is named after Jean Deschamps, who founded the festival there in 1957. The Carcassonne Festival, which is held in France and is centered on the theme of "diversity," draws in thousands of visitors from all around the world. Opera, theater, dance, classical music, and even modern music are all represented, from established names to up-and-coming talents.
Carcassonne has a complicated past that reflects a dual nature. Its current location was chosen for the City in the sixth century BC, after an earlier settlement was deemed unsuitable. In order to secure its position as a Lower Empire fortress, this oppidum erected a wall that stretched for more than a kilometer and was accompanied by thirty turrets. A further enclosure was constructed around it by Saint Louis and his successors a thousand years later. Court of the Viscounts Trencavel since 1125, it later became the Senechaussee, a powerful political institution with ties to the king. By the middle of the 1300s, the Albigensian Crusade was over, the Trencavels were conquered, and the populace was still restless. In order to make room for the new Lower Town, the Seneschal demolished the older settlements that were too close to his walls. The fates of Upper Town and Lower Town are different, and it wasn't until the 15th century that the once-great city began to fall into disrepair. For 500 years, La Bastide's textile industry contributed to the town's growth and prosperity. JP. Cross-Mayrevieille is credited with saving the medieval city by having it declared a Historic Monument in 1849. The first major revitalization efforts were led by Viollet-le-Duc, and consequently, the city becomes the unique eyewitness to a fantastical Middle Ages.
Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne is open Monday to Sunday 10 AM to 5:45 PM.
Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne is located at 1 Rue Viollet le Duc, 11000 Carcassonne, France.
By car: You can drive to reach Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne. From Perpignan, simply take exit 1, then the A-9 to Narbonne, the A-61 to exit 24, then the N-113 to the heart of Carcassonne. To get to the heart of Carcassonne from Montpellier, take exit 4, then the A 9 to Perpignan, the A 61 to exit 24, then the N 113. If you are coming from Toulouse, take exit 7, then the A-6, then exit 23, and finally the N-113 to the heart of Carcassonne.
What are the timings for Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne?
The Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne are open daily from 10 AM to 5:45 PM, Monday through Sunday, although the ramparts close 30 minutes before closing time, with the last admittance taking place 45 minutes before closing.
What is the best time to visit Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne?
The best time to visit the ramparts is in the winter or spring when temperatures are milder, and you should go as early as 10 a.m.
When was Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne built?
The Cité was built during the 3rd century AD on the top of a remote hill that abruptly rises on the right bank of the Aude. The Iberians first settled there in the fifth century bce, followed by the Gallo-Romans. When Euric I of the Visigoths ruled his nation in 485 CE, the inner rampart was constructed.
How can you book tickets for Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne?
Cité de Carcassonne tickets can be purchased online from a reliable source. To avoid being let down, check online and reserve a time window.
Where can I book tickets for Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne?
Since Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne is impressive and beautiful, offsite, there may be a 30-minute or longer wait in line thus you can book the Carcassonne tickets online.