Trip to Carcassonne

Today, after a leisurely breakfast, we got into our rented Citroen, set the GPS, and headed out for Carcassonne, home of the famed walled medieval city.






A major highway on the preferred GPS route was “Baree” closed do to construction so the GPS took us on a twisting route through one little French village after another with multi-colored autumn vineyards in between. Each one had an aisle of golden leaved plain trees either as we entered or departed.

















Once we finally got to Carcassonne, (It took about 90 minutes to get there.) the GPS seemed to be a bit confused possibly because we entered the city from a less than optimum direction due to our construction mandated “Deviation’”. Many of the streets of Carcassonne are no different from the streets in the tiniest of French villages- narrow, twisting, and frequently one-way. The GPS often tried to get us to turn where there was no street to turn onto or turn the wrong way on a (newly reversed?) one-way street. We finally parked a several blocks from “Le Cite’” and walked up the hill toward the turrets and towers that obviously marked its location. (There was supposed to be parking right across the street but we never found it.)

Le Cite’ has been restored with the dual purpose of preserving a grand piece of history and attracting tourists. The tourists were few and far between on this cold, cloudy, windy day. Beyond the moat and inside the walls is a little city unto itself with hotels, restaurants, bars, and every kind of gift shop imaginable. Most of the restaurants were closed as the lunch period was about over when we arrived and many of the shops were closed as well due to the fact that it was an off-season week day.













The highlight of the city for us was the ancient and beautiful St. Nasaire Cathedral. It’s a true medieval cathedral with buttresses and gargoyles and wonderful stained glass, and they still hold services there.













Cold and weary, we set the GPS for “home” and were taken again on a twisting route through tiny French villages. But on the way back they were mostly different ones from those we saw on the way to Carcassonne. Good thing we were sightseeing!