Walt Disney used the town as the basis for the castle in ‘Sleeping Beauty’

Technically not in the Minervois but located on the western fringes

Carcassonne is at the crossing of two major traffic routes used since ancient times: from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from the Massif Central to Spain. In 1996, Unesco added the Canal Du Midi to its list of "World Heritage" sites. In 1997, the Cite De Carcassonne was awarded this distinction. The town is divided into two distinct areas. The Cite which occupies a plateau on the right bank of the Aude and the much larger Bastide Saint-Louis which lies on the left bank. Both the Cite and the Bastide are worth exploring and are within an easy walk from each other. There is a lovely central square surrounded by shops and numerous restaurants, which on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays is occupied by a wonderful market. The Canal Du Midi is located by the train station from here you can take leisurely boat trips and learn about the canals history.

The best way to experience Carcassonne is on foot, wandering through the myriad of streets stopping for refreshments in quaint cafes and restaurants. Carcassonne truly has something for everyone. Elegant boutique shops in the Bastide give way to winding medieval streets and artisan shopping and architecture in the cite. Carcassonne has much to offer amongst other things you will find art galleries, theatres, a golf club, even horse drawn carriage tours. For those missing home there is an Irish bar popular with locals and ex-pats alike.

Where Does the Name "Carcassonne" Come From?

In 760, "Pepin the Short", King of the Franks, took most of the south of France back from the Saracens, except for Carcassonne. True to its reputation, it remained an impregnable fortress. After a long siege, the Franks had good reason to think that the inhabitants of Carcassonne would soon starve and surrender. But Dame Carcas, the widow of the Sarrasin lord of the castle, devised a plan to save the city. She had a pig fed with the cities last sacks of grain. When the pig was fat enough, it was thrown over the city’s ramparts. At the sight of such a well-fed fat animal, the astonished assailants concluded that the inhabitants still had enough food in stock to stave off famine and weren’t about to surrender. They gave up and lifted the siege. Dame Carcas rang all the bells of the city to celebrate the victory. Legend has it that Dame "Carcas sonne" (Dame "Carcas rings") is where the name of the city came from.

Of course no trip to Carcassonne would be complete without visiting the medieval fortress that is so iconic to Carcassonne. On seeing it for the first time one can not help but be impressed by it’s splendour and majesty. It is the largest former fortress in Europe, dating back to the Roman Empire. The ramparts were built during the fourth century, whilst the chateau was built during the 12th century by Vicomte Trencavel. Set on a hillside allowing extensive views over the Pyrenees mountains and the surrounding countryside it’s no surprise that three million visitors a year come to see it.