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Origin and history

The City of Carcassonne, located on the right bank of the Aude, is a medieval architectural complex whose origins date back to the Gallo-Roman oppidum of Carcaso (VIth century BC). Fortified by the Romans, then occupied by the Wisigoths (Vth–VIIIth centuries), it became a strategic issue during the Sarrasin invasions (725–759) before being taken over by Pépin the Brief. Its medieval climax began in the 11th century under the Viscounts Trencavel, who built the Comtal Castle and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, while promoting trade and the establishment of catharism.

In the 13th century, after the crusade of the Albigois (1209), the Cité passed under royal control. Louis IX and Philip III the Hardi strengthen the defenses there with a double enclosure (3 km of ramparts, 52 towers) and barbacanes, transforming Carcassonne into a strong border square facing the Aragon. The City, spared by the Hundred Years' War, declined after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), losing its military role. In the 19th century, threatened with destruction, it was saved by archaeologist Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille and restored by Viollet-le-Duc (1853–79), despite criticism of its aesthetic choices (slate roofs, reconstructed drawbridge).

Ranked a Historic Monument since 1862 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the City today embodies a jewel of Occitan tourism. Its ramparts, castle and basilica (mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles) attract 4 to 5 million visitors annually. The Medieval and the summer festival animate this site, while its 50 permanent inhabitants coexist with a commercial activity focused on heritage. The legend of Dame Carcas, linked to the Saracen resistance, adds a mythical dimension to her history.

The architecture of the City reflects its historical strata: Gallo-Roman enclosure (I–III centuries) with horse iron towers, wisigoth ramparts (Vth–VIth centuries), and royal fortifications (XIII century) with round and heavy towers. The Narbonnaise Gate (1280), symbol of this defensive system, and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire (XI-14th centuries), with exceptional stained glass windows, illustrate this synthesis. The 19th century restorations, though controversial, preserved this unique heritage, now managed by the National Monuments Centre.

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