The city of Carcassonne: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a ‘Grand Site de France’.
The royal fortresses of Languedoc, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a collection comprising Carcassonne and the castles of Lastours, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Aguilar, Termes, Puilaurens and Montségur.
The AOP vineyards around Carcassonne: “Grands Vins en Grand Carcassonne”. A destination with the “Vignobles & Découvertes” label.
You'll see it appear in the distance like a vision, crowning a hill in the midst of the vineyards. Carcassonne, its 52 towers and 3km long double city wall encapsulates how everyone imagines a medieval town. UNESCO listed it in 1997 and you're invited to the party to celebrate its 1000 years of military architecture. Enter through the Narbonne gate.
Walk around the city, soak up the buzzing restaurants and boutiques, stop in the 12th century count's château built by the Trencavels and visit Saint-Nazaire Basilica.
Carcassonne city
Storm the ramparts of Carcassonne and the hilltop citadels #GrandSiteOccitanie to discover a legacy of stories stretching back more than 2,600 years. See the top tips for visitors recommended by Occitan singer, poet and writer, Claude Marti.
Venture outside the medieval town with a stop at the medieval La Bastide Saint-Louis. Its perfectly straight streets are packed full of Carcassonne life around the Halles and the Canal du Midi port. Take a boat trip and dive into the extraordinary history of this UNESCO structure.
You can also rent a boat in Carcassonne without a permit for a few days cruising the Canal.
Canal du Midi
Our favourite
The Festival de Carcassonne is one of the biggest summer events in France and held in the awe-inspiring Théâtre de la Cité by the ramparts. Be sure not to miss the Banquet du Livre, a literature and philosophy festival in Lagrasse Abbey.
The castles of Lastours, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Termes, Aguilar, Puilaurens and Montségur: they are known as the ‘sons of Carcassonne’, or by some as the ‘citadels of vertigo’, such are their breathtaking panoramic views. In 2026, UNESCO recognised their exceptional value and inscribed them on the World Heritage List under the title ‘Royal Fortresses of Languedoc’. The site includes the fortifications of Carcassonne.
Situated between the Aude and the neighbouring Ariège, visit these unmissable sites that bear witness to the Cathar epic and the royal reconquest that followed. Take a leap back eight centuries in time to admire these strongholds built atop rocky outcrops, which epitomise medieval military ingenuity.
Castles of Lastours
Inseparable from its scenic setting, Carcassonne lies between the Corbières mountain range, the foothills of the Black Mountain and the edges of the Mediterranean. It brings you landscapes to explore using green transport. Countless signposted hiking trails snake through the vineyards.
You can also rent a 2CV (several car hire companies in Aude) to drive along the bushy roads.
If you're on your bike then take the long Canal des Deux Mers route linking the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
Corbières vineyards
Around Carcassonne, the vines sculpt the landscapes. They have been here since Roman times. Wines from the Cité, AOC Cabardès, Corbières, Fitou as well as AOC Minervois, Limoux and Malepère: decisions, decisions!
Meet the winemakers and listen to them tell you about the art of the vine. Spend a night in a wine estate and wake up in the middle of the vineyards.
Experience a food and wine pairing in a land that is packed with Michelin-starred chefs.
Travel by train
Discover Carcassonne by train with the Occitanie Rail Tour, on the Canal du Midi line.
How to get there
Carcassonne is the Aude's prefecture, 80km from Toulouse and 150km from Montpellier.
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