Audio Guided Walking Tour of Historic Carcassonne, France

You have arrived in front of Saint-Michel Cathedral. It was she who dethroned the Saint-Nazaire Basilica, in the medieval city, in 1803, robbing it of the status of cathedral.

Here you are in front of a building that will interest more than one: the halls of Carcassonne. Built in the middle of the 18th century, this former grain hall was located on the Place du Pilori, the square where thieves were exposed to punish them.

Take a look to your left: the wall that stands here is part of the Saint-Martial Bastion, built in the 16th century.

We are in André Chénier Square, named after this French poet and journalist who was guillotined in Paris in 1794, in the midst of the Revolution.

It was in the 13th century that this church was built in the heart of La Bastide, in 1297 exactly. Like most churches in the city, it follows an architecture based on the southern Gothic style

Take a look to your left: you are in front of the Hotel de Rolland, the current City Hall of Carcassonne.

The Pont-Neuf, in opposition to the Pont-Vieux which is just opposite, was built in 1840 to allow a second access between the medieval city and the lower town.

Behind this wall is Notre-Dame de l'Abbaye, an ancient monastery that comes straight from the Middle Ages.

Here you are in front of a statue of great importance for Carcassonne.

The large door in front of you corresponds to the entrance to the Count's Castle. It is a barbican, installed here to protect it.

Come on, let's embark on a short historical parenthesis. If you have already listened to the audioguide that tells the history of the city, you have understood that Carcassonne was a feudalism for several centuries.

The Basilica of Saint-Nazaire-et-Saint-Celse, whose full name is, is the first building restored by Viollet-le-Duc during his major restoration of the City.

On your right, located at the entrance to Pont-Vieux, stands the former royal sheet factory.

This small chapel, on your left, is aptly named: there used to be a large hospital right next to it.

You may have already understood it, but Carcassonne is divided into two parts: the Medieval City, perched on its rocky outcrop and surrounded by its suburbs, and the lower town, called the Bastide Saint-Louis, which is located on the other side of the Aude.

Here you are on the Place du Général-de-Gaulle. Here, we come across what was once one of the most important buildings in the city: the Jacobin Gate, on your right, marks the entrance to the lower city of Carcassonne.