Carcassonne Begins, Carcassonne, France
I鈥檓 sitting on a second train after connecting in Toulouse. We鈥檙e not moving, and I鈥檓 trying to grab a clue from the French coming over the loud speaker. I ask the young woman sitting next to me if she speaks English. Yes, she says there鈥檚 an issue with the tracks ahead and we鈥檒l have about an hour delay.
I arrive in Carcassonne after dark and an hour before the hotel closes. It鈥檚 not the most interesting hotel of the trip and the concierge does not speak English. But the room is adequate and it鈥檚 a 4 minute walk from the train station, which will make a smoother 6 AM departure on my final day here.
I wake up the next day exhausted, and my shoes and bag are breaking. I toss a repair kit into my day tote and drag myself out the door for my reserved spot on a docent-led tour of the walled city.
It鈥檚 about a 30 minute walk up the hill and over the Pont Vieux, the picturesque pedestrian bridge that crosses the Aude River. Built in 1320, it was the only link between the medieval walled city and the Bastide Saint Louis until the 19th century. At the foot of the bridge is a little chapel that is closed. The river looks low and is filled with algae; I spot a solitary swan swimming among the ducks. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
I arrive in Carcassonne after dark and an hour before the hotel closes. It鈥檚 not the most interesting hotel of the trip and the concierge does not speak English. But the room is adequate and it鈥檚 a 4 minute walk from the train station, which will make a smoother 6 AM departure on my final day here.
I wake up the next day exhausted, and my shoes and bag are breaking. I toss a repair kit into my day tote and drag myself out the door for my reserved spot on a docent-led tour of the walled city.
It鈥檚 about a 30 minute walk up the hill and over the Pont Vieux, the picturesque pedestrian bridge that crosses the Aude River. Built in 1320, it was the only link between the medieval walled city and the Bastide Saint Louis until the 19th century. At the foot of the bridge is a little chapel that is closed. The river looks low and is filled with algae; I spot a solitary swan swimming among the ducks. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Carcassonne Begins
Guide Location: France » Carcassonne
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Heather Daveno
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: France » Carcassonne
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Heather Daveno
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Pont Vieux
- Lady Carcas
- Inquisition Museum
- School Museum
- cathedral
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all