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We walked down to Place du Prado to take night photos of the illuminated La Cité, the reason we were staying overnight in Carcassonne. We've visited four or five times and never seen it at night so this was the trip. Fortunately, it stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy it.
We walked down to Place du Prado to take night photos of the illuminated La Cité, the reason we were staying overnight in Carcassonne. We've visited four or five times and never seen it at night so this was the trip. Fortunately, it stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy it.
Carcassonne is full of souvenir shops of varying quality and price. You can choose your style and price and shop as much or as little as you like. It's great fun if you are looking for souvenirs for family and friends at home.
This looks more normal. There are crowds of people filling the restaurants around the square. You see a lot of people with their dogs at the restaurants but once we saw a lady eating here with her cat . . . a very well-behaved cat.
We walked down to Place du Prado to take night photos of the illuminated La Cité, the reason we were staying overnight in Carcassonne. We've visited four or five times and never seen it at night so this was the trip. Fortunately, it stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy it.
This was about a block from our B&B and the cute coat in the middle was tempting us to buy it for our daughter until we looked at the price. Temptation gone . . . but it was lovely.
If you stand in Place du Prado by the Porte Narbonnaise, you see this very peaceful looking cemetery across the road.
Standing in Place du Prado, this is the view of Porte Narbonnaise. There is often a carousel set up here and horse and carriage rides on offer. Off season, it is a little quieter.
La Cité, the fortified castle at Carcassonne is surrounded by two walls and you can walk around most of it. The views of the surrounding countryside are stunning. You can also take horse & carriage rides between the walls which is fun but not quite as picturesque.
La Cité has two walls surrounding it and you can walk in between the walls . . . or take a horse and carriage ride around it. The views over the countryside are marvelous where you can see over the walls.
There are lots of small carvings decorating the church in Carcassonne. It's fun to walk around and see all of them. Binoculars or a telephoto lens are a big help for details.
There had been a wedding the evening before and it seems every flower in the surrounding area was in the church. Our presumption was that either the town florist got married yesterday . . . or he got rich.
The original church was built in the 6th century, replaced in 12th century, added to in the 13th century and then renovated by the famous (or infamous) architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the mid 19th century. The stained glass is famous throughout the midi region.
The signs for various restaurants and shops are fascinating, colorful, historic and fun.
The little (or large) snail says it all . . .
Temptation . . .
This striking tapestry has been on display at St. Nazaire for several years and I can't find the artist. I have photos of it going back to 2010 and I'm sure that little plaque on the wall gives all the information but I keep forgetting to photograph it.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Carcassonne and we had never visited the Château. We arrived on Patrimony Day; it was open and free so we hopped in line and joined the crowd. It was actually the shortest line we've seen there but it was crowded, busy and lots of fun. Most of the visitors on a Patrimony Day were French people enjoying their own patrimony.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Carcassonne and we had never visited the Château. We arrived on Patrimony Day; it was open and free so we hopped in line and joined the crowd. It was actually the shortest line we've seen there but it was crowded, busy and lots of fun. Most of the visitors on a Patrimony Day were French people enjoying their own patrimony.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Carcassonne and we had never visited the Château. We arrived on Patrimony Day; it was open and free so we hopped in line and joined the crowd. It was actually the shortest line we've seen there but it was crowded, busy and lots of fun. Most of the visitors on a Patrimony Day were French people enjoying their own patrimony.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Carcassonne and we had never visited the Château. We arrived on Patrimony Day; it was open and free so we hopped in line and joined the crowd. It was actually the shortest line we've seen there but it was crowded, busy and lots of fun. Most of the visitors on a Patrimony Day were French people enjoying their own patrimony.
Just outside the Château Comtal in La Cité de Carcassonne
Our fourth or fifth trip to Carcassonne and we had never visited the Château. We arrived on Patrimony Day; it was open and free so we hopped in line and joined the crowd. It was actually the shortest line we've seen there but it was crowded, busy and lots of fun. Most of the visitors on a Patrimony Day were French people enjoying their own patrimony.
There are little restaurants tucked all over town. When you get tired of walking, stop and have a coffee, tea or glass of wine.
When you get to the ramparts, the views of the surrounding countryside are breathtaking.
