1 Day in Carcassonne: Itinerary with Top 15 Things to Do

Camille L.

Things to do in Carcassonne?

To visit Carcassonne is to discover the famous city of Dame Carcas, with its famous castle and ramparts. Regularly ranked in the Top 5 most visited French cities, it is a must-see destination if you want to spend a weekend in the sun in the South of France.

And even in November, there is a good chance that you will find nice weather and a blue sky, the crowd less (proof is the day of our visit!).

Thanks to our Top 15 things to do and see, I propose to you to discover the main places of interest of the city but also visits to do around Carcassonne.

Follow our examples of itineraries to visit Carcassonne in 1 or 2 days and find the list of best accommodations  and our tips to optimize your stay.

Visit Carcassonne: the must-sees

1. The City of Carcassonne

It must be admitted, if you come to do some sightseeing in Carcassonne, it is especially to visit its medieval city! It is simply the symbol and the main tourist attraction of Carcassonne. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is internationally renowned and you will be honored to be one of the millions of visitors it welcomes each year.

Dominating the modern city, perched on the hill, you will not have too much trouble to locate it. To join, you can choose to park your car in one of the car parks located just next to the city or simply walk there.

At that moment I advise you to do as we did, and to leave your car at the underground parking of the square Gambetta, located next to the Pont Neuf, in the lower town. From there, the entrance of the city by the door Narbonnaise, is only about ten minutes on foot and the walk will allow you all the leisure to contemplate the external enclosure. 

You can then begin your visit to the city of Carcassonne,  the largest and best preserved medieval fortress in Europe. 2,000 years old, with its many towers and 2 speakers, the place is particularly impressive!

Entry into the city itself is free. Feel free to browse all the narrow cobbled streets to soak up the atmosphere. You will also find there (ultra tourist place) full of shops and restaurants.

In the city, you can then visit several historical monuments and some museums:

I also recommend taking the time to tour the city through the passage of Lices, a space between the 2 walls. In the 17th century, the Lices were the poor housing district of the city. The opportunity today  to admire the city from another angle  and escape a bit of the crowd .

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:
Pick up the City Pass of Carcassonne to enjoy a guided tour of the medieval city and many discounts on other monuments. Also valid for visiting the surroundings of Carcassonne at a reduced price. It is sold at the Tourist Office.

The medieval walled city of Carcassonne

2. The Comtal Castle

The place to visit absolutely in the city of Carcassonne, it is Comtal Castle.

Built in the 12th century by the Viscounts of Carcassonne, Trencavel, the castle has undergone many changes over the following centuries: addition of an enclosure, towers, ditch or barbican. The goal is to strengthen it to the maximum to make it impregnable. It constituted indeed, the central device to defend the city in the event of attacks.

Your visit to the castle begins with a film of ten minutes retracing the history and the different stages of constructionof the castle. I admit that most of the time, these films seem a bit boring because not very modern and a bit long, but this one is particularly well done and interesting. I did not even leave before the end!:-)

During the rest of the visit, you will be able to follow several courses, the various rooms including the donjon, and visit the castle museum. It houses a collection of sculptures from Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

The most famous piece is undoubtedly the bust of Dame Carcas, whose legend tells that she managed to repel the army of Charlemagne for 5 years through multiple stratagems. In particular, she would have dropped a whole pig filled with wheat from the top of the ramparts to show her enemies that the city still had plenty of food to hold the siege. This pig would have been the decisive element that would have decided Charlemagne raised the siege, the latter thinking that the inhabitants were not at all hungry and not close to give way. In fact, it was the last pig and there was nothing left to eat! Dame Carcas then decided to ring the bells to celebrate the victory, from wherethe name “Carcas Sonne”. Ingenious no?

The visit then continues with the walk up the inner ramparts. You can admire a beautiful panorama of the city of Carcassonne, the Bastide Saint-Louis, the Black Mountain and the Pyrenees.

Discover more information on the official website.  

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:
The castle being the most visited historical monument of the city, there is often a lot of tail at the entrance. To avoid the queue, purchase your tickets in advance directly from this site. It is not more expensive and you will enjoy your day.

The Comtal castle of Carcassonne and its ramparts

3. The Basilica St-Nazaire

After your visit to the Château Comtal, go to the other place of interest in the city of Carcassonne, the Basilica of St. Nazaire.

As beautiful inside as outside, it is a perfect example of a harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Built in the early 11th century by Pope Urban II in the Romanesque style, part of the Basilica was later destroyed and rebuilt in the Gothic style when the city passed into the hands of kings.

Nicknamed “The Jewel of the City”, the Saint-Nazaire Basilica is famous for its magnificent stained glass windows, counting among the most beautiful of the Midi. 

The Basilica is open every day and Sunday only from 12h to respect the office 11h.

The Basilica of Saint Nazaire, in the city of Carcassonne

4. The Museum of the Inquisition

On a theme a little less cheerful and a little more creepy, I recommend you visit the museum of the Inquisition, also located inside the city.

The museum is interested in one of the darkest periods of Carcassonne, the Inquisition. It traces its history and presents several instruments of torture from the twelfth century to the French Revolution and used on the so-called heretics, Cathars or even witches!

Based on stagings, tracing for example the trials reserved for heretics, since their trial through torture, the stake or other methods of killing, you will learn more about this high-place of the inquisition .

I advise you not to visit this museum with young children and some people might find some shocking scenes, but the museum is for the sole purpose of denouncing the intolerance and fanaticism of the time. 

For opening hours and rates, it’s on the official website. 

The Museum of the Inquisition of Carcassonne

5. Old Bridge and Bastide Saint-Louis

After your visit to the city of Carcassonne, go down to the lower town by taking the Pont-Vieux. 

This medieval bridge was until the nineteenth century, the only way to reach the fortress from the Bastide Saint-Louis (another name given to the lower town). Today the bridge is reserved for pedestrians and offers a beautiful view of the city. The opportunity to make some beautiful pictures. (If you want to go to the city by car, you will have to take the Pont Neuf, located next door.)

At the exit, take the rue du Pont-Vieux to reach the Bastide Saint-Louis. Built in 1260, the Bastide is organized around Place Carnot and bounded by the boulevards of Warsaw, Omer Sarrault, Jean Jaurès and Barbès.

To see and do at Bastide Saint-Louis:

The old bridge of Carcassonne, connecting the city to Bastide Saint-Louis

6. The Canal du Midi

Like the city of Carcassonne , the Canal du Midi is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the 17th century to connect the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. 

To find out, the best way is to choose to go on a cruise. Departures are from the Port du Canal du Midi, north of Bastide-Saint-Louis, near the train station SNCF Carcassonne.

Several companies offer different types of cruises on the Canal du Midi: most are commented, the durations vary from 1h15 to 2h and the rates are between 8 € and 10 €. Several departures are organized during the day.

You can also choose a 2:30 lunch cruise for lunch or dinner.

If you want to go on a cruise to Carcassonne, you will find more details here and here. 

If you are sporty, you can also cycle along the Canal du Midi or simply take a leisurely stroll along the banks. 

Take a cruise on the Canal du Midi in Carcassonne

7. Taste a Cassoulet

Crucial step of a stay in the South of France, taste the local gastronomy! In the region, no choice it will test the famous cassoulet!

Cassoulet is a traditional regional dish made with white beans, sausages and duck confit. There are some variations but the traditional recipe must contain at least its 3 ingredients. And I prefer to warn you right now, it is not considered a light dish!:-)

You will have no trouble finding a restaurant to enjoy it, the cassoulet is a la carte of almost all establishments in Carcassonne.

Cassoulet, a typical dish of southern France

8. Visit Carcassonne in Summer

If you have decided to go on a trip to Carcassonne in summer, you will certainly be lucky enough to be able to attend several events and festivals:

What to do and see around Carcassonne?

After visiting the city of Carcassonne and Bastide Saint-Louis, I recommend 3 other activities and sights to see around Carcassonne. 

9. Cathar Sites

The city of Carcassonne and its ramparts are among the many Cathar sites in the Languedoc region.

Around Carcassonne, you will find many other places in the Cathar country to visit: castles, museums, medieval cities and abbeys.

I advise you to go to the tourist office to get the leaflet listing all the Cathar sites to see,  there are more than twenty.

To see including near Carcassonne:

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:
If you want to visit several Cathares sites, buy the Passport sites of Cathar country at the tourist office. Sold € 4, you will receive € 1 discount on each entry.

10. The Cavayère Lake

Located just 15 minutes drive from Carcassonne, Lake Cavayère is a popular place to cool off.

You will find 3 beaches of sand and turf arranged and supervised. You can swim and enjoy the lake facilities, thanks to Aquaviva Park, an inflatable water park. You can also go pedal boating or try water sports, wake boarding and paddle boarding. Finally, if you do not feel dizzy, you can go tree climbing. 

Everything to spend a half day or even a whole day to relax and wander. Do not forget to bring your picnic!

Lake Cavayère, 15 minutes from Carcassonne

11. Chasm of Cabrespine

20 minutes from Carcassonne by car, I advise you to visit the Gouffre de Cabrespine.

Thrills guaranteed when discovering the abyss. More than 220 meters deep , the cave is one of the largest in the world. To give you an idea, we could easily put the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe inside.

You can even walk over the chasm thanks to a glass walkway,  one of the only platforms of this type located underground.

For timetables and prices, it is on the official website.

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:

If you like caves, 20 km north of Carcassonne and 12 km from Cabrespine, you can also visit the Limousis cave.

You will be able to discover several rooms and 2 lakes there, ending with the highlight of the show: a giant aragonite chandelier 10 meters wide. The guided tour takes about 1 hour.

And a rather unusual activity for a cave, you will even end up with a small tasting of wines, which are aged in oak barrels within the cave itself.

12. Toulouse

Located just 1h10 by road, Toulouse is the nearest large city to Carcassonne.

Here is a small selection of things to do in the pink city:

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:

To organize your stay in Toulouse, I advise you to read my dedicated article: What to do and see in Toulouse?

The Capitol, in Toulouse

13. Montpellier

Still around Carcassonne, you can also visit Montpellier.

By car, it takes a little less than 2 hours to reach the 2 cities.

To see and do in Montpellier:

For detailed information, I advise you to read my dedicated article right here: The 25 things to visit in Montpellier.

Place de la Comedie, Montpellier

14. Visit the Vineyards

Carcassonne is surrounded by many wine estates offering to meet the winegrowers, to visit the vineyard and above all to conclude with a small tasting.

Carcassonne is located in the Languedoc Roussillon region, where you will find wines in IPG Pays d’OC and in the Minervois and Limoux appellations.

You will find the list of areas to visit around Carcassonne here.

And what’s great is that  some tours are free!

Here is a small selection of domains (click on the links to book!):

1 Day Carcassonne Itinerary

To visit Carcassonne in one day, I recommend you to follow this route:

2 Days Carcassonne Itinerary

In 2 days in Carcassonne and its surroundings, you will have the time to visit the surroundings of Carcassonne. In addition to the one day itinerary, the 2nd day, I propose:

Accommodation in Carcassonne

Whether you are looking for where to sleep in Carcassonne with family, lovers or on a solo trip, you will find what you are looking for in my selection of the best accommodation!

Tips for your Carcassonne itinerary:

If you prefer an apartment for your stay in Carcassonne, I recommend the LOFT Spa-Côté Château.

Located 10 minutes walk from the city. Superbly decorated loft with fully equipped kitchen from 150€ per night. The pluses: the outdoor jacuzzi and the terrace, the neat decor, the tranquility. It is the best choice if you want to have an apartment in Carcassonne. Being able to swim in the jacuzzi is still a big plus!

You also have the 514 Apart Hotel. Located 300 meters from the medieval city. Modern and fully equipped apartment from 80€ per night, breakfast at 10€. Most: the geographical location, the free private parking, the equipment and the comfortable bedding.

Hotel de la Cité & Spa – Luxury hotel in Carcassonne

Where to eat in Carcassonne

How to get to Carcassonne

By car from:

By train from:

By plane, Carcassonne has an airport whose flights are operated by Ryanair. Flights from England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and the Netherlands.

FAQ: Questions about Carcassonne

Where to park to visit Carcassonne?

You will find paying car parks just around the medieval city, near the Narbonnaise gate. Price = 2€ for 1 hour / 6€ for 2 hours / 7.50€ for 4 hours.

You can also park in one of the paying car parks in the city center (underground parking Gambetta, André Chenier and Jacobins) and reach the Cité in 15 minutes on foot.

If you want to know where to park for free to visit the city of Carcassonne, you can try your luck on Quai Bellevue, in front of Le Bastion college or at the corner of Bd Barbès and Bd Marcou.

Where is the Carcassonne tourist office located?

There are 2 tourist information offices in Carcassonne:

What to do in Carcassonne with the family?

Here are some ideas for visits for a stay in Carcassonne with children:

What are the most beautiful villages around Carcassonne?

Here are the villages to see around Carcassonne:

And you? Are you planning to visit Carcassonne during your next stay in the South of France?

Are you looking for other travel ideas in France? Read also

Discover all our articles on France: All our tips on Mauritius are listed here.

Exit mobile version