The historian in the family was very keen to visit Cathar country and I enjoy the odd medieval castle, so next we headed to the town of Carcassone.

Carcassone is effectively three cities in one. First there is the old Cite which is the medieval castle area built on a pre-Roman site in the 12th and 13th centuries. Outside the walls, on the other side of the Aude river there is La Bastide Saint Louis which is a further walled city laid out in a grid formation in the 13th century by King Louis IX. Whilst the streets inside the walls are still relatively narrow, it was clearly planned! Finally modern Carcassone stretches out from there to form a large regional town.

One of the wooden covers on the walls of the old Cite

We walked the length of the walls, up and down huge numbers of round staircases and wooden platforms like this that were designed to protect the defenders from incoming archery.

Restaurant at night (we didn’t actually eat in this one)

But we also visited various restaurants, including having the best Cassoulet ever!

One of the nights we visited the old Cite, there was a street fair going on. These two performers were actually up on huge stilts doing a show for the people.

Our first venture from Carcassone into Cathar country was the drive to Lastours Castles which are only half an hour outside Carcassonne. There a long hill climb will take you to the 4 ruined castles of Lastours. It is fair to say it is a tough climb up to the castles and then to walk between the castles is also a fair hike!

Regine Tower, photographed from La Cabaret Castle, Lastours

A couple of days later we did a long drive, visiting 3 different castles Querbus, Peyrepteruse and Puilaurens as well as Lagrasse Abbey.

Carcassone ... Cathar country