Pyrenees Guide

The presence of history in Carcassone is impressive. Founded over 2.000 years ago and built on its present plan in the 13th century, it is one of the most remarkable sites surviving from the Middle Ages. It is today a Unesco world heritage site. The Aude and Canal du Midi separate the "lower town" from the medieval city built in the 13th century and restored in the 19th century by Viollet le Duc.

Carcassone is where Cinderella lost her glass slipper, Beauty nursed the Beast, and Jack's giant lived a happy life until that whole beanstalk affair. Round towers capped by red tile roofs and an undulating double wall guard the approach to the city. As you walk through the stone portals, the ramparts still seem to resound with the clinking of armor and sharpening of steel.

The dream fades fast once you clear the city walls. The 'battle sounds's are actually the screams of thousands of photo-taking visitors jostling for space on the narrow streets. Carcassonne has become one of France's top tourist destinations, where families and school groups get their yearly fill of on cheap plastic swords and shields. The city should not be missed, specially in the evening, when the streets are clear of crowds and the floodlit fortress echoes with free animations and concerts.

Special dates to visit Carcassone: Festival in July (dance, theatre, music); on 14th July, "embrasement de la Cite" (huge firework show); in August, les Medievales (knights and chivalry tournaments, historical reconstitutions and concerts).

Limoux - Attractive market town in the Aude département with a hansome church and interesting weekly (Friday) market. It lies on the River Aude some 30 km due south of Carcassonne. The river flows through the town from north to south, a number of bridges connecting the east and west halves. Natives ...

Querigut - The Querigut of Taga Castle are the remains of an ancient fortress, last refuge of the Cathars after the fall of ...

Quillan - Located 27km from Limoux, Quillan is a small town located at the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the road between Carcassonne and Perpignan. Quillan, at the top of the Haute Valley of the Aude, close to the mountains, is a medium sized town 6km from Espéraza and is popular for white water ...

Alet les Bains - Alet-Les-Bains is a small thermal resort south of Limoux. It is a typical Pyrenees half-timbered houses village, with an excellent Hotel, the "Hostellerie de ...

Rennes le Chateau - The legend of the treasure of abbot Sauniere looms over the fortified village dominating the valleys of the Aude and ...

Renees les Bains - Rennes les Bains is a spa resort of Roman origins, made famous by Blanche de Castille. Visit the archaeology museum, with objects and remains from the Roman baths (2nd and 3rd centuries ...

Axat - Axat is close to the gorges of the Aude and to the Pyrenees. Enjoy the Fanges forest walks, the climbing and water sport ...

Fenouillet - Today Fenouillet is a tiny little village on the borders of the Pyrenees-Orientales and the Aude. Its name comes from Fenouilledes and a dynasty of viscounts. Three castles stand on as many spurs to make up but one single fortress. Three castles: Sant Pere, Castellfidel and Sabarta, on three ...