Carcassonne

A brilliant, seemingly incessant streak of age-old bulwarks, lofty turrets and Medieval fortresses dominate the craggy knoll atop which the walled city of Carcassonne stands. Tumbling along its fortified lip are verdant meadows and fragrant vineyards that contrast the pale walls of this timeless city, forming a legion of labyrinths in the fertile ravine of the Aude River. The majestic Carcassonne alludes to a storied past, when Romans walled the hilltop around 100 BCE, building the first ramparts in Gallo-Roman times. Now designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Carcassonne is no less than a symbol of Medieval opulence, featuring maze-like concentric designs with two outer walls and 52 towers and barbicans that were meant to serve as impenetrable guards during a possible siege. The Château Comtal, dating back to the 12th Century, forms one of the highlights of this Medieval citadel, and offers riveting tours of its varied archaeological exhibits.