PLACE CARNOT
Square with a huge fountain, one of the prettiest and most typical of Carcassonne, the nerve centre of the lower town.
Renovated in 2021, Place Carnot is one of the prettiest and most typical squares in the heart of Carcassonne. It is the nerve centre of the lower town, known as the bastide Saint-Louis, founded in the 13th century at the request of King Louis IX. Formerly framed by covered marketplaces, it is now lined with beautifully restored middle-class buildings in flattering colours. Formerly Place aux Herbes, Place Carnot has evolved with the times over the centuries. An immense 18th-century fountain, dedicated to Neptune, the Roman god of Waters, features basins in pink Caunes-Minervois marble and sculpted ornaments in white Italian marble. It is the work of Italian artist Barata, who also designed the Hôtel de Rolland. A hub of commerce and life for the people of Carcassonne, it is bustling with restaurants and café terraces, where it's a pleasure to bask in the sunshine. A morning market is held here three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, as well as numerous festivities throughout the year: Wine Festival, Christmas market, etc. Every summer, a stage is set up on the square to host the artists of the Festival Off, whose shows are all free of charge. During the festive season, Place Carnot is transformed into a gigantic open-air skating rink, to the delight of young and old alike. It's surrounded by pretty chalets, showcases and sales points for a host of craftspeople, and smells deliciously of mulled wine.
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