Name: Carcassonne: France’s medieval fortress city
Uploaded: 2026-01-12T16:54:46.602Z
Duration: 5 min 38 s
Description: A UNESCO world heritage site and major tourist magnet. The fortress city of Carcassonne looks straight out of a movie – but is it really all medieval?

A UNESCO world heritage site and major tourist magnet. The fortress city of Carcassonne looks straight out of a movie – but is it really all medieval?

Carcassonne

Carcassonne, located in southern France, is one of Europe's best-preserved fortified cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing over 2.5 million visitors annually. The citadel underwent significant restoration in the 19th century by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who introduced features like slate roofs that were not originally part of the medieval structure, making the restoration itself a part of the city's heritage.

The city is steeped in both historical fact and legend, including tales of sieges, hidden treasures, and the mythical Dame Carcass. Despite its formidable appearance, the fortress was rarely used in battle and was only captured once due to a water shortage. Carcassonne also serves as a popular filming location and has hosted many celebrities at the historic Hotel de la Cité, with stories suggesting it inspired Walt Disney's classic films.

Carcassonne: France’s medieval fortress city

The old town of Carcassonne looks like a medieval movie set, but it's very real. Or is it? One of Europe's most famous citadels, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing in over 2.5 million visitors a year. Located in southern France, it's considered one of the best-preserved fortified cities in Europe. We'll hear five surprising stories about Carcassonne, and join tour guide Hélène Noblesse to set off for this city within a city. Located within the city walls, the old town looks like a well-preserved time capsule. But what if we told you that some things here didn't look like this in the Middle Ages? In the 19th century, the cité, as it's called, was in ruins and in danger of being demolished. Prominent architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc restored the citadel, but he didn't stay completely true to the original. You can see what's really typical from the restoration, the slate roofs. In the 19th century, everything was covered with slates, and of course that was really criticized because it's not a typical material used to cover the roofs. The medieval town was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a medieval town, but restored by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. So that means that the restoration is part of the national heritage. And nowadays, when we restore, we restore like Eugène Viollet-le-Duc would have done. At the medieval camp, you can experience what life was like in 13th century Carcassonne, and discover how people lived in their day-to-day lives. That's your weapon. So often, people have false preconceptions, about hygiene for example. They think people didn't wash back then, but even peasants washed themselves every day. Some French kings, like Louis IX and his queen, even held court from their bathtubs. Can you believe the fortress was rarely used in battle, but rather just for intimidation? Carcassonne was only captured once, in 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade, when its defenders ran out of water. There was a lack of water. The fact that Raymond-Maurice de Trincavel feared a massacre for the population, that he decided to surrender. That was not because the town was not so well defended. The strategy of the Crusaders was to use a lack of water to try to take the town quickly. And unfortunately, it worked very much here during the Crusade. The most famous legend of Carcassonne tells of Dame Carcass, who outwitted Charlemagne during a five-year siege. With supplies gone, she fed the last pig wheat and threw it over the wall, believing the city still had plenty. The army retreated. And this lady rings the bells to celebrate her victory. So the Charlemagne soldiers, hearing the sound of the bells, shouted Carcassonne, which means carcass is ringing. Of course, it was to celebrate her victory. It's of course a legend. Charlemagne has never been here. A five-year siege, that would be too long. And above all, this lady never existed. Speaking of legends, the Visigoths of Seta have hidden treasure here in the 5th century, looted from Rome, and many believe it's in this well. Patrick Robart is one of just under 30 people living in the fortified town. He's seen the well being drained. Treasures of a different kind were found. A few years ago, a Spanish tourist lost a large golden cross that had fallen into a fountain. She even paid to have the fountain completely emptied in order to find it. And what came to light? Stolen bicycles, shopping carts, all sorts of things like that. And luckily they found the golden cross too. Carcassonne has also been the setting for films and continues to attract celebrities. Many check into the historic Hotel de la Cité, a five-star hotel within the city walls. Since 1909, we've had many celebrities that came to the Hotel de la Cité. And the reason for this is that the hotel is located in an ideal situation between the French Riviera and the Basque country, Yarritz. For instance, we had Walt Disney in 1958. We had Grace Kelly. Hotel manager Xavier Lablord has displayed memories of famous guests and the original guest books in the lobby. Walt Disney is said to have found inspiration here for his movies Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, perhaps on the hotel terrace, with its view of the Fairy Tale Towers. Carcassonne is full of stories that often have more to do with our perception of history than with reality. Which fact surprised you the most?

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