Centre Travel

Perched high up on a hill above the River Aude , the old walled city of Carcassone looks like a fairytale medieval fortress but it whispers of the 19 th century thanks to the extensive restoration works undertaken from 1844 under the direction of the controversial architect Eugene Violet- le - Duc . The city was originally fortified by the Romans around 100 BC, with subsequent modifications in the 11 th century, but it was later left to ruin until Violet- le - Duc's ambitions project. It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1997 and although retaining the appearance of an impenetrable fortress, it now attracts some 200,000 visitors a year. For information: www.carcassonne-tourisme.com

Perched high up on a hill above the River Aude , the old walled city of Carcassone looks like a fairytale medieval fortress but it whispers of the 19 th century thanks to the extensive restoration works undertaken from 1844 under the direction of the controversial architect Eugene Violet- le - Duc . The city was originally fortified by the Romans around 100 BC, with subsequent modifications in the 11 th century, but it was later left to ruin until Violet- le - Duc's ambitions project. It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1997 and although retaining the appearance of an impenetrable fortress, it now attracts some 200,000 visitors a year. For information: www.carcassonne-tourisme.com