Cité de Carcassonne

A medieval fortified city in Carcassonne, Aude. Its double wall, nearly 3 km long with 52 towers, overlooks the Aude valley. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1997.

The Cité de Carcassonne is a medieval citadel on a hill on the right bank of the river Aude, in the south-eastern part of the city of Carcassonne. Its origins go back to Gallo-Roman times, and its double ring of walls, nearly 3 km long with 52 towers, dominates the valley. Inside stand a castle, the Château Comtal, and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire.

Saved from demolition in the 19th century thanks to the archaeologist Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, the citadel was restored by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, whose work is still debated. In 1997 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an exceptional example of a medieval fortress town.