Cite de Carcassonne - A town , France

Acclaimed as one of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Carcassonne is a famous fortified town in France. Overlooking the Pyrnes mountains, Cite de Carcassonne has been witness to many rise and fall of rulers, battles and massacres for over two thousand years.

The region, which saw the first settlement as early as Eighth century BC, came under the Romans around 100 BC when they fortified the hilltop. Later Visigothic King Theodoric II seized Carcassonne in 453 and it was officially ceded to his kingdom in 462. Due to its strategic location, the town had been a victim of attacks and invasions many a time.

History of Cite de Carcassonne

Different rulers of Carcassonne expanded the fortification over the years. While the ramparts were made in the fourth century, the Chateau Comtal and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire were built by the Viscount Trencavel who became the owner of Carcassonne.

 

 

After being faced with number of battles, Cite de Carcassonne was finally annexed to the kingdom of France in 1247. Carcassonne was a strong French frontier between France and the kingdom of Aragon. King Louis IX extended the town across the river. The outer ramparts were built by him and his successor Philip III.

 

The fort was considered to impregnable and during the Hundred Year's of War, Edward the Black Prince failed to claim control over the city. Edward the Black Prince was the Prince of Wales of England who failed to seize the fortified town in 1355, but his troops caused havoc in the lower part of the town. In 1659, the Roussillon provence became a part of France after Treaty of the Pyrenees and thus Cite de Carcassonne lost its significance considerably. Fortifications were abandoned and the town emerged as one of the economic centers of France concentrating on woollen textile industry.

 

Over the period of time, Cite de Carcassonne reached such a state of disrepair that in 1849 the French Government decided to demolish it. But the decision created an uproar among the masses. Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, the then mayor

of Carcassonne and
Prosper Mrime, an eminent archaeologist and historian led the campaign of protest.
Later, the architect Eugne Viollet-le-Duc was accredited to renovate the fortress and the surrounding areas. Viollet-le-Duc faced strong criticism for not always following the local architectural style and he was unable to see the completion of work before his death. His work was completed by Paul Boeswillwald, and architect Nodet.

At present, Carcassonne is a prominent example of fortified town of medieval age. The castles, buildings, streets and the beautiful Gothic Cathedral of the town are encircled by massive walls. The main tourist attractions within the city are the the Cour du Midi, Chateau Comtal, and the torture chamber at the Exposition Internationale.

While holidaying in France, if you want to see a medieval fortified town then visit to Cite de Carcassonne is a must.