Carcassonne is a jewel of the Aude. Located halfway between Toulouse and Montpellier, the city shines with the beauty of its medieval city, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Beyond the beauty of its castle and its ancestral ramparts, you should not miss the opportunity to stroll in the lower city, rich with flowered alleys, cafes, restaurants, where you can taste the local specialties, on the beautiful Carnot square and in the peaceful Gambetta square. If a stay in Carcassonne is exceptional, it is also because its surroundings offer a multitude of experiences. Cruise on the Canal du Midi, vineyards, charming countryside, villages of character, underground escapades, the discovery of the Greater Carcassonne has something for every traveler. Here are 10 must-do experiences to enjoy during a trip to the Grand Carcassonne
1- Discovering the City of Carcassonne
Of course, a stay in Carcassonne starts with the discovery of its incredible medieval city, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Once you have crossed the drawbridge, you are offered a real journey through time. We go to the castle to discover the history of this building dating from the 12th century, then along the defensive wooden galleries linking the six towers pierced with loopholes. We then walk along the incredible ramparts for the pleasure of being in the largest medieval city in Europe, and enjoy great views of the region. Independent or guided tour, everyone can choose his way to discover these treasures. Aboard a small train, a carriage, dressed as a princess, a knight and a game book in hand, there are a thousand and one ways to soak up the atmosphere of the city with your family. And then, during the summer season, the city of Carcassonne is lit up for the fireworks on July 14th and for the simply enchanting sound and light shows
2- Stroll along the Canal du Midi
Carcassonne is the gateway to many sites of interest. After the visit of the medieval city, thecanal du Midi offers the opportunity to discover another monument classified as World Heritage by Unesco. Around Carcassonne, the part of the canal that connects Toulouse to Sète crosses the vineyards until it reaches the city center. On board a rental boat or on a bike ride, what a pleasure to follow the waterway shaded by plane trees and to enjoy the quietness of the place. The Canal du Midi lives to the rhythm of its marinas and locks. Several spots are unmissable around Carcassonne and along the canal. We stop in Trèbes to have lunch in its harbor and to fill up with local products; then we stroll in Villesèquelande, village of the tree, to discover its remarkable secular elm; we admire the wooden sculptures and other curious characters of the lock of Puichéric, the most atypical of the canal; we finally end up walking quietly in La Redorte on a stone bridge which allows the canal to evacuate its overflow of water. It is the "Épanchoir de l'Argent Double", classified as a historical monument
3- Visit a village of character: Caunes-Minervois
Among the most beautiful villages located around Carcassonne is Caunes-Minervois. Located at the foot of the Montagne Noire, you can stroll through a maze of paved streets revealing superb Renaissance monuments. Vegetation, fountains, private mansions, carved wooden doors, mullioned windows, one can take advantage of the stroll to marvel at each detail of this medieval village with its crazy charm and the soft light that reigns at the end of the day. A trip to Caunes-Minervois also allows you to visit one of the most beautiful Romanesque abbeys in the Cathar country. The Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Caunes-Minervois abbey captivates visitors with its magnificent chevet, its cloister and its marble. In fact, you can't go to Caunes-Minervois without visiting the incredible red marble quarries, the same marble that was used to decorate monuments such as the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Palace. To complete the day, one can either enjoy a climbing session on the walls around the Hermitage of Notre-Dame-du-Cros, or visit a cellar and taste some of the great wines of the surrounding vineyards.
4- Book hunting in Montolieu
Located only 20 minutes from Carcassonne, Montolieu is the only Book Village in the South of France. It welcomes the public as in a big library to hunt for books among its many booksellers. During a stroll through its charming streets, you can also enter its galleries to marvel at the arts and crafts that occupy a special place in this village nestled under the Montagne Noire. At the entrance of the village, the Manufacture, which is located at the edge of the Dure, is an atypical place with restaurant, artists' workshops and cultural events. A tour is a must! Just like in the museums. There is, of course, the unmissable Arts and Crafts of the book museum, but also the Cooperative-Museum Cérès Franco, which houses the impressive collection of art brut works from all over the world gathered by the collector Cérès Franco during half a century. If Montolieu is one of the most beautiful villages around Carcassonne, its surroundings are also worth a visit. You will discover how book paper is still made by hand at the beautiful Moulin à Papier in Brousses-et-Villaret, as well as the Cistercian calm of theVillelongue Abbey, nestled in the heart of the green Vernassonne valley
5- Doing wine tourism
Greater Carcassonne is a "Vignobles & Découvertes" destination. This means that you can indulge in wine tourism by meeting producers and tasting the fruits of their labor. AOC Minervois, Malepère, Cabardès and Corbières IGP cité de Carcassonne, there is enough to awaken the palates of epicureans. Cellars and wineries allow you to stock up on bottles to accompany meals and picnics in the heart of the vineyards. Several activities are offered to enjoy the wine landscapes in the Grand Carcassonne. Bike rides, horseback riding, winetours in minibus and other walks with the winegrowers' walks designed by the Tourist Office of Grand Carcassonne. And what better way to appreciate all the flavors and nuances of the great wines of the area than with a wine and cheese workshop?
6- Go to the giant abyss of Cabrespine
Looking for an unusual activity in Carcassonne? Go to the north of the city, 30 minutes away, for an excursion to the chasm of Cabrespine, an incredible place in the Montagne Noire. This marvel of nature is a large cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Europe. Its crystallizations are of an incredible beauty and give the feeling of contemplating a true work of art. In a fresh atmosphere, we discover several facilities to enjoy the place, such as balconies overlooking it. This unusual visit takes us from room to room, and you should not miss the activities offered on site! Monkey bridges, Nepalese bridges, wall progression, zip lines, here are the experiences offered to the most courageous with the Accro Grotte de Cabrespine. Let's also mention the underground river, an adventure that allows you to follow in the footsteps of the first explorers with river navigation and discovery of the underground environment
7- Entering the Limousis cave
Another unusual experience to live north of Carcassonne. After a nice road lined with garrigues and vineyards, you will arrive at the Limousis cave and follow the tracks of the cave bear. The 1 km route reveals seven rooms, two lakes, a bridge suspended over a water mirror and the Aragonite chandelier, a real masterpiece. A sound and light show enhances the site. On your way out, you can finish with a tasting of the Amethyst wine, aged in oak barrels in the cave. Note that during the summer, bus excursions are offered from Carcassonne to the site where the Limousis cave is located
8- Hiking and walking in the countryside
Greater Carcassonne offers a multitude of hiking trails, notably thanks to the mobile application RANDO GRAND CARCASSONNE. The GR®36 crosses the medieval city and passes by the Canal du Midi. The path to Santiago de Compostela (path of the Pyrenean foothills) GR®78 passes through typical villages such as Alairac and Arzens in the heart of the Malepère vineyards. You can also opt for thematic paths and combine the pleasure of walking in the middle of nature with art. The Sentier en Poésie in Villar-en-Val reveals quotes from the writer Joseph Delteil in his native landscape, while the sentier sculpturel in Mayronnes lets contemporary sculptures appear in the vineyards and garrigues of the Hautes-Corbières. You can also walk in small natural settings such as the poetic gardens of the Villelongue abbey, an ideal place to slow down and get into slow tourism mode. To vary the pleasures, the Grand Carcassonne also makes the most of bicycle rides. From the beautiful village of Aragon, there's nothing like riding a mountain bike to explore the green and hilly landscapes of the Cabardès.
9- Enjoy a rich gastronomy
In Carcassonne and its surroundings, it is impossible not to stop in one of the restaurants to savor a real and authentic cassoulet! There are also wine bars and gastronomic restaurants cooking with typical products from short circuits. Why not take advantage of a stay in the Grand Carcassonne to taste tapas in the open air with a view of the hills? In Homps, Trèbes, there are restaurants whose terraces are directly on the Canal du Midi. In Carcassonne, as in its surrounding villages, delicatessens are flourishing to offer the best of local products such as rice from the rice fields of the Marseillette pond and cheeses from the Val de Dagne. A must-see in the Greater Carcassonne area is also the Maison de la Truffe in Villeneuve-Minervois. The place offers visits, including playful ones, to learn more about the black diamond. Without forgetting to taste it of course. Throughout the week, the markets animate the streets of the main towns of Greater Carcassonne. In Trèbes, Montolieu, La Redorte or Rieux-Minervois, you should not hesitate to go and stock up on fresh and quality products.
10- Swimming and sports activities for the whole family
Temperatures are very pleasant during the summer months in the Greater Carcassonne area. The lakes offer the opportunity for families to swim, but also to have fun during tree climbing sessions and to enjoy wateractivities such as canoeing or pedal boats. You can reach the lakes of the Montagne Noire: the lake of Jouarres and the lake of La Cavayère. Horseback riding, mountain biking, treasure hunts, balneo-ludic areas, the choice is wide in the Grand Carcassonne to spend good moments with your family. Young and old alike can find everything they need to exercise and have fun. And if you want to be even moreunusual, you can take advantage of a moment at the Australian park of Carcassonne to believe you are in Australia and feed the kangaroos and learn more about the aboriginal culture.
Practical information
Grand Carcassonne Tourist Office
Carcassonne branch office
2, square Gambetta
11000 Carcassonne
Caunes-Minervois branch
3, ruelle du Monestier
Branch office of Montolieu-Cabardès
1, place Jean-Guéhenno
Antenna of Trèbes-Canal du Midi
12, avenue Pierre Curie
04 68 78 58 90
Mail: [email protected]
More information on the website of the Grand CarcassonneTourist Office and on theFacebook and Instagram
