Carcassonne packs two UNESCO World Heritage sites into one compact city: the medieval Cite de Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi. Beyond the fortress walls, the Bastide Saint-Louis offers a lived-in French town with markets, restaurants, and a slower pace. For the complete overview, see our Carcassonne travel guide.
Things to Do in Carcassonne: The Medieval Cite
Chateau Comtal and Ramparts
The Chateau Comtal is the castle-within-a-castle at the heart of La Cite. Built in the 12th century by the Trencavel family, it served as the viscounts’ residence and the citadel’s last line of defence. Entry costs 11 EUR for adults (free for EU residents under 26) and includes a self-guided tour of the castle museum plus access to the rampart walk. The rampart walk covers the inner and outer walls with 52 towers, offering views across the Aude valley to the Pyrenees on clear days. Allow 90 minutes. Open daily: April to September 10:00 to 18:30, October to March 9:30 to 17:00. Last entry 45 minutes before closing. For details, check our Carcassonne weather by month guide.
Basilique Saint-Nazaire
This Romanesque-Gothic basilica sits inside the citadel walls, dating from the 11th to 14th centuries. The highlight is the collection of 16th-century stained glass windows, among the finest in southern France. The rose window on the north transept and the Tree of Life window on the south transept are the standouts. Free entry. Open daily 9:00 to 18:00 (shorter hours in winter). For details, check our best time to visit Carcassonne guide.
Porte Narbonnaise and the Double Walls
The Porte Narbonnaise is the main gate into La Cite, flanked by two towers and a barbican. It is the most photographed entrance and the one you will use if arriving from the Bastide on foot. Walk through the gate and immediately turn left or right to follow the lices, the grassy strip between the inner and outer walls. This 1.5km circuit is free, open 24/7, and gives you a ground-level perspective of the fortifications without paying for the rampart walk. For details, check our Carcassonne events and festivals guide.
Things to Do in Carcassonne: The Bastide Saint-Louis
Place Carnot
Place Carnot is the main square of the Bastide Saint-Louis, the 13th-century lower town built on a grid pattern. The square hosts a food and produce market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings (7:00 to 13:00). Surrounding cafes and restaurants fill the arcades, including Le Marcou and Brasserie de la Comedie. The Neptune Fountain in the centre dates from 1770. For details, check our Carcassonne neighborhoods guide.
Musee des Beaux-Arts
Housed in a former 18th-century courthouse, the Musee des Beaux-Arts holds a collection of European paintings from the 17th to 20th centuries, including works by Chardin, Corot, and local Languedoc artists. The museum also displays a collection of faiences (ceramics) and archaeological finds from the region. Entry is free. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:45 to 12:15 and 13:30 to 17:45, closed Sundays and Mondays. For details, check our where to stay in Carcassonne guide.
Pont Vieux
The Pont Vieux (Old Bridge) spans the Aude River, connecting the Bastide Saint-Louis to the foot of the medieval Cite. Built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 19th, the stone bridge is pedestrian-only and provides the classic postcard view of La Cite rising above the river. Cross at sunset for the best light on the citadel walls. The bridge is 200 metres long and takes about 5 minutes to cross. For details, check our Carcassonne travel tips guide.
Things to Do in Carcassonne: Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi Boat Trip
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site completed in 1681, runs through Carcassonne about 1.5km north of the city centre. You can take a 2-hour guided boat trip from the Carcassonne port (Port de Carcassonne) with companies like Lou Gabaret and Cocagne. Prices run about 12 to 15 EUR per adult. The trip passes through locks, under plane trees, and past vineyards. Alternatively, rent a bicycle from Evadez Vous (15 EUR per day) and ride the towpath for free. The towpath runs 240km from Toulouse to Sete along the canal, but the section between Carcassonne and Trebes (8km east) is the most scenic stretch near the city.
Ecluse de Carcassonne (Lock)
The Canal du Midi lock at Carcassonne is one of 63 locks along the waterway. It is a good spot to watch boats navigate the 3-metre drop while you have a drink at the Canal Cafe next to the lock. The lock operates daily during daylight hours from March to November. No cost to watch. The cafe serves simple lunches and drinks from 10:00 to 18:00 in season.
Things to Do in Carcassonne: Food and Wine
Taste Cassoulet
Cassoulet is the signature dish of Carcassonne, a slow-cooked casserole of white haricot beans, duck confit, Toulouse sausage, and pork. The dish originated in the Languedoc region and Carcassonne claims its own authentic version (distinct from the Toulouse and Castelnaudary variants). Try it at Restaurant Adelaide (5 Rue de l’Aigle d’Or, mains 18 to 25 EUR) or Comte Roger (14 Rue Saint-Louis, 20 to 30 EUR). Order a day ahead at some restaurants as the cassoulet requires hours of slow cooking. The Fete du Cassoulet takes place in late October with tastings, cooking demonstrations, and a cassoulet-eating competition.
Wine Tasting in the Languedoc
Carcassonne sits at the crossroads of several Languedoc wine appellations: Minervois to the north, Corbieres to the south, and Malepere to the west. The Maison du Vin et du Terroir in the Bastide (3 Rue du Docteur Albert Tomey) offers free tastings and sells bottles from 6 to 25 EUR. For vineyard visits, the Chateau de Pennautier (8km northwest) offers guided tours and tastings for 10 EUR per person including 3 wines. O’Vineyards (10km north) does English-language tours with food pairings for 35 EUR. Book vineyards at least a day ahead. Most are closed Sundays.
Things to Do in Carcassonne: With Kids
Lac de la Cavayere
Lac de la Cavayere is a 45-hectare artificial lake 5km southeast of the city centre. It has three supervised swimming beaches, a water park called Aquaviva (open June to September, entry 8 EUR adults / 5 EUR children), pedal boat rentals, and walking trails around the lake perimeter. The lake is free to access, parking costs 3 EUR per car in summer. Bus line L2 runs from Carcassonne train station to the lake in about 20 minutes (1 EUR fare). Pack a picnic as the on-site snack bar is pricey and limited. Best visited on weekdays in July and August as weekends get very crowded with locals.
Medieval Jousting at the Chevaliers de la Cite
During July and August, free medieval jousting and sword-fighting shows take place in the lists (tournament ground) just outside the eastern walls of La Cite. Shows run daily at 15:00 and 17:00, lasting about 30 minutes. Arrive 15 minutes early to get a good viewing spot. The shows are aimed at families with children aged 5 to 12 but are genuinely entertaining for adults too. Check the schedule at the tourist office on Rue de Verdun as showtimes can change.
