Ancient Origins (Pre-Roman to Roman Era)

Bronze Age Settlements: The hilltop site of Carsac (modern Carcassonne) was inhabited as early as 3500 BC, with strategic advantages for defence and trade

Roman Fortification (1st Century BC):

The Romans fortified the site around 122 BC, naming it Carcaso. It became a key stop on the Via Aquitania, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The original Gallo-Roman walls (still visible today) featured 34–40 semicircular towers.

Visigothic and Saracen Rule (5th–8th Centuries)

Visigothic Stronghold: By 462 AD,

Carcassonne was part of the Visigothic Kingdom. The Visigoths expanded the Roman walls and built the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire (precursor to the current cathedral)

Saracen Occupation (725–759):

Muslim forces from Barcelona captured the city in 725 AD, introducing advanced irrigation and architectural techniques. They were expelled by Frankish king Pepin the Short

Medieval Heyday:

Trencavel Dynasty and Cathar Crusade

Trencavel Lords (11th–13th Centuries):

The Trencavel family transformed Carcassonne into a cultural hub, constructing the Château Comtal and the Gothic Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus (1096)

Albigensian Crusade (1209):

As a Cathar stronghold, Carcassonne was besieged by Crusaders under Simon de Montfort. Viscount Raymond-Roger Trencavel surrendered and died in captivity, marking the city’s annexation by France in 1226

Royal Fortress and Military Decline

Capetian Expansion (13th Century): French kings Louis IX and Philip III added a second outer wall (52 towers total) and monumental gates like the Porte Narbonnaise, making it Europe’s largest fortress

Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659):

After the Franco-Spanish border shifted, Carcassonne lost military relevance and became a textile hub. By 1804, Napoleon demilitarized it, leaving the citadel to decay.

Its Name

The name "Carcassonne" comes from the legend of Dame Carcas, a Saracen princess who supposedly tricked Charlemagne’s army by feeding a pig wheat and tossing it over the walls, making them think the city had endless food. When the siege lifted, she rang the bells—hence "Carcas sona!" ("Carcas rings!"). The story is pure folklore, but a statue of her stands near the Narbonne Gate

It’s France’s Second-Most Visited Monument

Only Mont Saint-Michel rivals its tourist numbers

Click on any image for enlarged image and navigation views.