Useful Travel Information, Carcassonne, France

Carcassonne has an entire city that is a castle, in La Cite, the fortified upper city. These massive ramparts atop a hill provide broad views of the lower city below. In Carcassonne, visitors stroll along the cobblestone streets, browsing shops selling medieval wares, or nibbling on the classic peasant stew cassoullet at various cafes.

Although this city is one of France's top tourist destinations, drawing an average of three million visitors yearly, it mostly attracts Europeans, so it can feel especially exotic. Some describe it as a tourist-trap, and there are a bit too many shops hawking tacky souvenirs, but it is still and enchanting and interesting place to visit.

·        Getting Around

You can fly into Carcassonne's airport, although if you are departing from the U.S., count on a layover somewhere in Europe. Once you arrive, there is a free shuttle into the city. There are also free shuttles from May through November (an electric car during the early spring and late fall, then a shuttle bus during the summer) running from La Cite to the lower city. The city's bus can be used during the winter. The bus system doesn't run on Sundays. You can also book a French Rail Pass. If you are arriving by train and staying in La Cite, you will need to navigate the city's bus system or catch a taxi. 

·        When to Go

There isn't really a bad time to visit, since the weather here is quite temperate year-round, but select a season based on your own tastes. In winter, many of the city's attractions are closed or run on limited hours. Spring and fall can be ideal. The most will be happening during summer, but Carcassonne will also be the most packed with tourists that time of year.

·        Key Tourist Attractions

La Cite may be small, but there are many things to see here. Take a tour of the ramparts, visit some of the museums, and be sure not to miss visiting the Basilica of Saint Nazaire.

1.     Castle and ramparts tour, which is available in various languages, is well worth your time. There is also a museum of Carcassonne's history, and a gift shop.

2.     The Basilica of Saint-Nazaire is filled with wonderful stained glass, and has detailed carvings both inside and out. It is located at Place de l'Eglise.

3.     Les Aigles de La Cite (the Eagles of La Cite) is a great exhibit featuring the largest collection of birds of prey in the world. They are trained in the medieval methods of flying freely, then coming to the falconers when called. It is at Pech Mary and demonstrations are held from March through November, although groups can schedule appointments year-round.

Reading the information above, I am pretty sure that you will be struck by the urge to visit Carcassonne as soon as possible. The city is really worth visiting. Planning your travel to Carcassonne, you have to think of a good place for accommodation. There is a great variety of places of accommodation in Carcassonne. There are either cheap or luxurious hotels in Carcassonne and the quality of the service in all of them is excellent. To guarantee your booking for the chosen hotel in Carcassonne, it is better to make an online reservation in advance. So if you ever have the chance to travel Carcassonne, don’t miss it out!