Carcassonne, Two Towns in One

Greater Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a major city with a population of approximately 50,000. Located in the plain of the Aude River, Carcassonne was on the historic trade route between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it's a popular tourist town, where we planned to spend two nights.

The Citadel of Carcassonne

The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire. The hilltop citadel was taken over by the Visigoths, who expanded the city. Successive rulers expanded the fortification (including a second outer wall) until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1657.

Today, the Citadel of Carcassonne is a major tourist destination; the newer part of the city is an economic center for manufacturing including shoes, rubber, and textiles. Carcassonne is also the center of a significant wine-growing region.