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Carcassonne – When you're traveling through Languedoc,
this is a "must-see" for kids. "Carcassonne is every child's
dream of a walled city," says a friend. |
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Carcassonne began as a Roman city (Carcaso), more defenses
were added by the Visigoths, and the citadel was really beefed up in the
10th-13th centuries. In the 13th century, Carcassonne was the target of
two major seiges, but withstood the attacks. As a result of the 1209 rebellion,
the dreaded Simon de Montfort became the Viscount of Carcassonne. In the
19th century, the fortress was restored and turrets added. |
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Today, the "Cité" is the
largest of it's kind – a double-walled stronghold, with numerous towers
and ramparts, enclosing a medieval town, chateau and cathedral. |
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The main entrance through the Narbonne Gate (Port Narbonnaise)
is dramatic – two big guard towers with slits, where archers stood
ready to release their arrows. Walk around the narrow streets of the medieval
town. The 12th century Chateau Comtal is a fortified castle, with
it's own moat, bridge, gatehouse and walls. Don't miss the Saint-Nazaire
cathedral, a Romanesque and Gothic style church with lovely stained
glass windows. From the Aude Gate or Saint-Nazaire Tower, you can run around
in the wide grassy areas between the crenellated walls. |
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 Museums (Cité) – Get a feeling for medieval life
in the Museum of the Middle Ages, with costumes, weapons and models
of Carcassonne over the centuries. Visit the School Museum (3 Rue
du Plô) to see a classroom, or stop into the Museum of the Hat to see what the well dressed woman or man wore in the Middle Ages (buy hats
as souvenirs too). |
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At
the Jardin du Prado, take a ride on the old-fashioned merry-go-round.
Definitely fun for little ones. |
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Tour
the inner walls in a horse drawn carriage (get carriages at the Narbonne
Gate). |
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Below
the fortress, cross over the Old Bridge, linking the Cité
with the town or follow paths along the River Aude. |
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At
Pech Mary Hill, catch "Eagles of the City" (Les Aigles
de la Cite), a 45 min. demonstration of medieval falconry. |
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In
town (Ville Basse), walk the tow paths along the Canal du Midi and watch the locks in operation. |
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Outside
of town, at Cavayere Lake (Lac de la Cavayere) there's swimming and
pedal boats. |
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Roquefort Cheese Caves (Roquefort sur Soulzon) –
There's nothing like a piece of good Roquefort cheese. Roquefort is sheep's
milk that's turned into cheese, salted, and aged in ancient caves on oak
planks. Visit the caves of Roquefort Société to see
where the cheese is aged – just going down into the caves is worth
the visit. Children are free, and, of course, you can taste the cheese. |
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1188. Wisecracking
teenage squire Pagan Kidrouk and Lord Roland Roucy de Bram return
from the Crusades to Roland's family castle near Carcassonne. It's
an uphill battle for the honorable Lord Roland when his repulsive
family starts a fracas with the local abbey. A vivid story of the
Middle Ages, good for teens. (Chapter book)
Lord Roland
and Pagan join the Abbey of St. Martin in the next adventure Pagan's
Vows (life in the medieval abbey will never be the same) and
in Pagan's
Scribe ,
Pagan is now grown up, and finds himself in the thick of the great
siege of Carcassonne.
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See
what life was like in Carcassonne during the Middle Ages. A visual
guide to medieval life, with photographs of clothing, beds, tables
and chairs, food, weapons, musical instruments, and models of
an abbey, a church, a market stall. Good for all ages. (Picture
book)
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Find out what
it was like to live in a castle – in war or peace, castles
were busy, filled with hundreds of nobles, knights and servants,
some guests were kept in the dungeon, feasts were held in the great
hall (it was not polite to pick your teeth with a knife while at
the table). (Picture book)
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(More children's
books on other France pages) |
