As with most museums, there are audio guides that lead you around and give you information on the rooms and artifacts. First it was a Gaulish settlement but then in the 3rd century the Romans decided to turn it into a fortified town. To learn more about the cookies please click here. The earliest known settlement of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC, when a hill-fort was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. The castle looks amazing and the Rampart walks are amazing. It is located in Aude, a department in the southern French region of Occitanie.The city is divided into two parts by the Aude River, the Ville Basse and the Cité - the latter being the finest example of a fortified medieval town in Europe. Both routes exist since ancient history. During the turbulent years of the late 3rd and the early 4th century it was protected by the construction of a defensive wall some 1,200 metres in length, the impressive remains of which still survive around two thirds of the interior fortifications of the later town. Plan to stay for hours. To reach the cité, walk uphill for about 20 minutes or take a bus, taxi, or the Little Train (summer season only) to the entrance gates. Chateau Comtal is minutes away. In 1997, Carcassonne was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. The Medieval Cité lies within the modern city of Carcassonne in the Aude Department, of which Carcassonne is the prefecture, in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Chateau Comtal Travel Tips. The exquisite interior decoration was This is a must-see for anyone who is looking to find out about the citadel’s rich history. château comtal 2️⃣ enceintes fortifiées (IVe et XIIIe siècles) 3️⃣ kilomètres de remparts 4️⃣... # 3 December 2020 - 10H02 @leCMN . Château Comtal is part of the Cité de Carcassonne, located just southeast of the modern town of Carcassonne. Two final construction campaigns took place in the 13th and early 14th centuries, following unsuccessful sieges in 1240 and 1280. During the turbulent years of the late 3rd and the early 4th century it was protected by the construction of a defensive wall some 1,200 metres in length, the impressive remains of which still survive around two thirds of the interior fortifications of the later town. Many restaurants are very touristy… so before you order, make sure to ask if the cassoulet is homemade (and look for the logo: it is mandatory in France to indicate homemade dishes on menus). The tour with Nathalie was one of the Highlights of my holidays. Such was the impregnability of Carcassonne that it was never attacked during the Hundred Years' War, even during the Black Prince's raid in 1355. The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a 12th century Medieval castle within the Cité de Carcassonne, the largest Medieval city in Europe with its city walls still intact. In 1247, as a consequence of the Albigensian Wars, the viscounts’ possessions were confiscated by the French crown. Great artworks were then undertaken. (more). Magical medieval village and castle experience. The second entrance to the castle is on the western side. In 1853, the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Ducwas charged with renovating the fortress, as well as the castle. Some of the main highlights of the Château include the Keep which is a four-storied square shaped tower that has a vaulted hall and 13th century paintings, and the ramparts (defensive walls) that you get to walk around. The Chateau Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a medieval castle inside the city of Carcassonne and a part of the Cathar Castles. … Nathalie was an excellent guide - with a lot of knowledge, very charming and funny! Chateau Comtal is minutes away. A Roman tower housed the Medieval Inquisition. Inside you can visit a museum laid out in some parts of the habitations, and in the yard, displays of medieval military art, with reconstructions of battles, types of sieges, as well as other historical displays. WiFi and parking are free, and this hotel also features an outdoor pool. All year round there are guided tours leaving from the Chateau Comtal ( 12th century) ..except for these dates 1st January, 1st May, 11th November and Christmas day.In addition to the Chateau there is also the Basilique Saint-Nazsaire ( 11th to 14th C),Musee de L'Ecole,Imaginarium ( Croisade albigeoise), Musee de la Chevalerie and of course a walk around the ramparts. Vaux-le-Vicomte, château near Melun, France, designed in 1656 by Louis Le Vau for Nicolas Fouquet, who was finance minister to King Louis XIV. Do hire a guide to help you explore the place. The present Romanesque cathedral started to be built in June 1096. By using our site you agree to the use of cookies. Make sure to visit the impressive Château Comtal with its excellent views on the ramparts, the city, the vineyards and the Pyrénées in the background. 12 Rue Fernand Merlane, Carcassonne, 11000, France, 800-246-8357 Château Comtal de Carcassonne is a Well Preserved,Medieval,Cathar,Castle in France, one the most impressive Castles, Stately Homes, Chateaux Forts and Manor Houses for holidays, exclusive hire, tours, conferences, weddings, and visits. Coronavirus update: Our printing service continues to operate as usual, with framed and unframed prints available for delivery in normal timescales. Visit the Château Comtal and walk the battlements. The town was Carcassonne is Europe’s largest fortified city that still stands today. The château, finished in 1661, is considered to be one of the masterpieces of French Baroque residential architecture. At the same time the external defensive walls were built, so as to make the town, recently annexed to the Royal domains and made the seat of a senechal, completely impregnable. The town is 90 km (56 miles) southeast of Toulouse in the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central of France. Fortifications were abandoned and the town became one of the economic centres of France, concentrating on the woollen textile industry. It became an arsenal and supply depot during the Ancien Regime and then during the Revolution. History of the Château Comtal in the Medieval City of Carcassonne. In the 1st century BC, this settlement was absorbed into the Roman culture. WiFi and parking are free, and this hotel also features an outdoor pool. It was surrounded by a rectangular fortified enclosure in 1226. At the heart of the Cité de Carcassone is the Château Comtal. What people are saying about Château Comtal. Easily worth the price. To visit the castle, you walk over the bridge and pay an entrance fee. The Château Comtal is a relatively large castle up against the inner ramparts. Check any national, local, and health advisories for this destination before you book. Very good 8.2 From 44 reviews. Carcassonne is at the crossing of two major traffic routes: the route leading from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and that from the Massif Central to Spain, skirting the Pyrenees. Very good 8.0. tres bon hotel. We use them to increase the quality of this site especially for you, they help us understand your needs (help us collect statistics), help our partners deliver the right content displayed on our website. The barbican is composed in order to offer a central space open on the castle and on its moats. Developed by. The Château Comtal like comment share history The castle has about 2,500 years of history and has seen the Romans, Visigoths, Saracens and Crusaders. The citadel derives its reputation from its 3 kilometres long double surrounding walls interspersed by 52 towers. In 1208, when Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against the Cathar heresy, Carcassonne was besieged, and surrendered in August 1209. The Château Comtal was built in the 12th century by Bernard Aton Trencavel over the western part of the Roman walls. Courtyard of Château Comtal. Click to read about the best things to do in Carcassonne with kids during a long weekend. The Château comtal dates back to 1130 when Bernard Ato Trencavel IV commissioned its construction. Closed – 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, 1 and 11 November, 25 December, © 2014-2020 Project "Castles". The chateau has an intriguing yet violent history. The castle was built on a former Visigoth fortress of which it kept some parts of walls and two towers on the western side of the Cité, close to the inner wall, above the steepest side of the hill, and on the eastern side are the ditches where you can walk under the walls and see the bridge. To learn more about the cookies please click here. Important: This destination may have COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, including specific restrictions for lodging. He had enhanced lines of defence added between 1228 and 1239. We use them to increase the quality of this site especially for you, they help us understand your needs (help us collect statistics), help our partners deliver the right content displayed on our website. By using our site you agree to the use of cookies. The main entrance of the castle is at the end of a stone bridge running over a dry ditch. The earliest known settlement of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC, when a hill-fort was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. The castle consists of two single-storey buildings, dominated by a square tower, arranged at right angles in a courtyard, enclosed by palisades on the east side. The private chapel of the counts, the Chapel Sainte-Marie, was built in 1150 and the remains of the apse can still be seen. The Cathar Castles is a broad term given to a series of around 20 forts built and used by the Cathars (followers of Catharism) all across France. Cité de Carcassonne is one of the most European famous fortified cities, created in the department of department of Aude, in the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon. In 1659, after the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the province of Roussillon became a part of France, and the town lost its military significance. A ring of walls with slits for firing arrows and round towers with embrasures run along the walls along the eastern side where the main entrance is. The barbican of the Comtal castle of Carcassonne is a half-moon shaped construction, which’s battlement is set on a semi-circular form with in its middle a tower-door. Not wheelchair accessible. The viscounts of Carcassonne and Béziers built the Basilique Saint-Nazaire (1096–1150), and about 1125 the Château Comtal was incorporated into the Visigothic rampart. The Castle is located at the western end of a rocky spur, on the highest point of the city. 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