Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour

Carcassonne During World War 2

Private Tour with a Knight

Private guided tour of the city of Carcassonne

Guided tour of the City of Carcassonne (on foot)

Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walking tour. Private tour.

Languedoc Vineyard Tours

La Table d'Alaïs

Within the medieval walled city, this is your best bet if you want to avoid the tourist traps. Up the stairs, you'll find the pared-back dining area leading onto a courtyard terrace for dining in fine weather. On the menu, traditional and modern go hand in hand: 64-degree egg, truffle and button mushrooms; cassoulet with Castelnaudary beans and duck confit; pavlova with seasonal fruit and vanilla mascarpone cream.

Brasserie à 4 Temps

A modern brasserie complete with a shady terrace, where you can enjoy classics that have been given a new spin by Franck Putelat's former sous-chef. Devilled eggs and leek vinaigrette, beef tartare, cassoulet… absolutely delicious. Book ahead to secure your table.

La Table de Franck Putelat

The fortified Cité Médiévale is part of the time-honoured heritage of Carcassonne and its region… and the same could almost be said of Franck Putelat. In his place at the foot of the ramparts of the medieval town, this native of the Jura, who has made the Aude département his home, cooks the produce from his large (one hectare) vegetable garden, in line with his culinary concept of "classic-fiction". This translates into a clever rendering of the old gourmet hits, which the chef revisits according to what inspires him on that day. Three examples that have become iconic are his parmentier with sea fig, cassoulet with pigeon supreme and pigeon leg sausage, and bouillabaisse with duck foie gras. Appetising visuals, flavour and finesse, to be savoured in a lively atmosphere, in the company of a very diverse clientele. Pastry chef Alexis Pocinho crafts a particularly balanced selection of sweets. There are seven rooms available for overnight guests.

Carcassonne - FRANCE

Domaine d'Auriac

A magnificent 19C property steeped in history sets the elegant scene and provides the perfect foil for classical recipes, enhanced by the odd modern twist. When the weather allows, make a beeline for the terrace overlooking the grounds. The epitome of good taste in a quintessentially French country estate.

La Barbacane

Set deep in historic Carcassonne, the Hôtel de la Cité is a superb example of neo-Gothic architecture, built in 1909 on the site of the former episcopal palace, whose magnificent gardens abut the ramparts. Inside, stained-glass windows, coats of arms and wainscoting lend it an ambience worthy of 19C French architect Viollet-le-Duc. Based on top quality ingredients, notably Mediterranean fish and seafood, as well as game and mushrooms in autumn, the menu champions the region’s terroir in dishes that add a new spin to classical recipes.

Comte Roger

This restaurant within the medieval city walls has a sleek contemporary design and tables set up on a lovely airy patio – Comte Roger knows how to welcome guests! Cassoulet (the house speciality) is of course given pride of place, along with seasonal and regional ingredients (asparagus and local lamb, Lauragais lentils, Belpech poultry etc), which are prepared with a keen sense of precision.