Friday, August 5, 2022

Continuing to Explore the Fortress in Carcassonne

We continue our exploration of the fortress and climb up to the ramparts (les remparts) where we are rewarded with great views of the city below.

To the ramparts, city below

We walk on the wall of the fortress, from tower to tower, with changing views of the fortress, the medieval city, and the countryside outside.





Walking the ramparts


Views inside and outside

About halfway around, we reach the cathedral, an impressive structure in the center of town.

Cathedral

We continue on the ramparts, up and down the stairs between levels and in the towers.

Lots of stairs

Continuing around

When we finally come down from the ramparts, we wander out of the fortress and into the cathedral:  Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse We've seen it a lot as we walked around the outer edge and find it is just as impressive inside.  Originally constructed as a church in the 6th century by the Visigoths, the cathedral construction began in 1096 and it is now a French national monument.

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse

Outside in the medieval town, there is cassoulet on every menu.  We need to come back some time, spend the night, and dine on cassoulet!


Cassoulet everywhere

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