Carcassonne is famous for its citadel, the “Cité de Carcassonne”, a medieval fortress whose construction began in the 11th century, on the site of earlier fortifications dating back to the Roman era. Carcassonne was an independent fiefdom in the medieval era and became a stronghold of the Cathars in the late 12th to early 13th centuries.
The Cathars were a Christian sect who rejected the ostentatious wealth of the Roman Catholic Church for a much simpler, egalitarian society. They were based in this south west region of France. This of course incurred the wrath of the Pope who declared the Inquistition and launched a bloody and barbaric Crusade to wipe out the Cathar heretics. The Papal Crusaders captured Carcassonne in 1209 and the city submitted to the rule of the kingdom of France in 1247.
During the Hundred Years' War, English forces under the command of Edward the Black Prince unsuccessfully besieged the city in 1355, although they destroyed the lower town. By the end of the 17th century the castle’s strategic significance was reduced and the fortifications fell into disrepair. Beginning in 1853 the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc began the decades long task of restoring the citadel. His vision was somewhat controversial as the style of the towers, turrets and other features was not necessarily very authentic. However, today it is generally regarded as a masterpiece of restoration and in 1997 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today it is France’s third most visited tourist attraction after Paris and Mont St Michel. Be warned, it gets horrendously busy in the peak summer period, if you’re planning a visit avoid July and August!
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