Shopping and Sightseeing
You can easily spend hours in the museums and quirky shops of Ville Basse, they’re not as touristy as the shops in La Cité and you can simply wander from one medieval site to another. Visit the Chapelle des Dominicaines (Rue du Verdun) which has a great time line of the city’s history running round its walls.
TOP TIPS
Summer in the City: May to September. The region has a temperate climate though it does get hot in peak summer months. There are plenty of events, but one of the best is from mid June to early August - the famous Festival of Carcassonne presents a series of cultural activities including concerts, theatre and dance. The twice daily jousting and horsemanship shows run from July to August at the foot of the ramparts.
Cooler months: The city is less crowded but no less charming and at Christmas this is a great place to enjoy the festive market and beautifully decorated shop windows.
Travelling with kids: Children of all ages will love the fairy-tale castle, the gargoyles and the mini train, there’s even a horse drawn carriage which always gets their attention!
Local’s tip to Carcassonne: Take a boat trip along the Canal Du Midi, a world heritage site that runs through the city. You can take a guided tour or hire your own boat (ticket office opposite the train station).The paths of the Canal are lined with magnificent plane trees, perfect for a wander, bike ride (they can be hired at the same office) or a picnic.