Things to do in Carcassonne – 8 tips in the fortified city

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Carcassonne in southern France is best known for the Cité de Carcassonne, the spectacular fortified city with high walls, towers and winding alleys. When we stepped through the gates it almost felt like entering a fantasy story. Here are our tips for things to see and do in Carcassonne.

Carcassonne in southern France

Carcassonne is located in the Aude department of the Occitanie region, roughly halfway between Toulouse and the Mediterranean Sea. The city's main attraction is the historic Cité de Carcassonne, which sits on a hill above the Aude River.

The fortified city is one of those places that almost looks too fantastical to be real. Pointed towers, double walls and gates lead into a maze of narrow alleys and old stone houses. We thought it was awesome on our first visit. And Carcassonne still holds up to closer inspection.

Things to do in Carcassonne – 8 tips

Here you will find our best tips on what to see and experience in Carcassonne.

1. Enter through the Porte Narbonnaise

Even entering the Cité de Carcassonne is an experience. The impressive Porte Narbonnaise with its two towers is one of the main entrances to the fortified city. Inside the walls, a lively district awaits with alleys, restaurants, shops and historic buildings.

It costs nothing to enter the Cité de Carcassonne itself, so you can stroll around inside the walls without an entrance ticket.

2. Stroll through the medieval alleys

The easiest thing to do in Carcassonne is also one of the most enjoyable: just walk. Narrow alleys wind between the stone houses and here and there small squares open up. Restaurants, cafes and shops have moved into the historic environment, making the Cité still feel like a small town, not just a monument.

As we walked around here, it was easy to start imagining what life might have been like inside the walls in completely different times. And that is perhaps Carcassonne's great strength. You don't need to know much history to be drawn into the environment.

3. See the impressive city walls

The Cité de Carcassonne is surrounded by two concentric defensive walls with a total of 52 towers. The fortifications extend for about three kilometers around the old city.

Between the two walls is an area called the lices. Moving around here gives a completely different sense of how extensive the defense system actually is. Parts of the walls have roots in late antiquity, while the large medieval defense system was mainly developed during the 13th century.

4. Visit Château Comtal

In the middle of the fortified city lies Château Comtal, the Counts' Castle. It was built in the 12th century by the powerful Trencavel family and then rebuilt and strengthened in the following centuries.

Unlike the Cité itself, an entrance ticket is required to visit the castle and the associated parts of the ring wall. Here you get closer to the defenses and at the same time have nice views of both the fortified city and the landscape outside the walls.

5. Look inside the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire

The Basilique Saint-Nazaire is another of the great historical buildings within the walls.

The church has been built and altered over several centuries and combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The stained glass windows in particular are worth a closer look. It's also nice to step inside for a while from the busier alleys outside.

6. Look for traces of Viollet-le-Duc

Carcassonne looks very medieval, but not everything is as untouched as you might first think. During the 19th century, the fortifications were in poor condition and parts were threatened with demolition. Instead, an extensive restoration was carried out under the direction of the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

The work took place over several decades, and his interpretation of what a medieval fortress should look like has left a clear mark. Among other things, the pointed roofs on several towers have been discussed over the years.

The restoration is now part of the history of the World Heritage Site itself. In fact, UNESCO highlights Viollet-le-Duc's work as one of the reasons why Carcassonne is particularly significant.

7. Eat and browse the shops

It's easy to think that the Cité de Carcassonne is just made up of historical monuments, but inside the walls there are also plenty of restaurants, cafés and shops.

While we were here, we went into a small jewelry store that sold stylish rings for men. And yes, we got to take one of the rings home with us.

If you want to try something typical of the region, you can look out for cassoulet, the hearty southern French stew with white beans that is strongly associated with Carcassonne and the surrounding area, among other places.

8. See Carcassonne from the outside

Don't forget to also leave the fortified city and look back at it from the outside. It's at a little distance that you really see the whole silhouette with the walls and all the towers. A walk down towards the Aude River and Pont Vieux gives nice perspectives of the Cité.

On the other side of the river is Carcassonne's younger center, Bastide Saint-Louis. If you have more time, it is worth combining it with the much older fortified city.

Carcassonne by motorhome

We came to Carcassonne by camper and were able to park outside the fortified city and walk to the Cité.

It is still easy to visit Carcassonne by motorhome. There are designated sites for camper vans near the medieval city and another motorhome site at Camping de la Cité with facilities such as water and drainage.

Rules and prices change, so check the latest information before your visit, especially if you plan to stay overnight.

Is Carcassonne worth a visit?

Yes, definitely. Carcassonne is touristy and inside the walls there are plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants. But that doesn't change the fact that the setting itself is spectacular.

We still remember the feeling when we walked inside the walls and saw the pointed towers rising above us. It was a bit like stepping straight into a fantasy story.

And somewhere among all the medieval walls, historic buildings and cobblestone alleys we also managed to buy a ring. Historical memories can look different…

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Are you looking for inspiration and tips for places to visit nearby? Here you will find more reports:

• Sète
• Palavas les Flots
• Gorges du Tarn