Carcassonne

Carcassonne, in the Aude department of Occitania, is best known for its medieval Cité, a fortified stronghold listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its double ramparts, towers and the Château Comtal reflect a history dating back to Gallo-Roman times, with major restoration carried out by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. The Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, within the Cité, is also worth visiting for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Down below, the Bastide Saint-Louis, the lower town with its grid-patterned streets, offers shops, markets and a more local atmosphere. The Canal du Midi, also UNESCO-listed, runs through the city and provides pleasant walking or cycling routes along its shaded banks, as well as boat trips. The surrounding region, set between Languedoc vineyards and scrubland, enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers. Local cuisine centres on cassoulet, a signature dish of south-western France. Carcassonne makes a convenient base for exploring the region's vineyards, nearby fortified villages and the Pyrenees, which lie less than two hours away by car.