Carcassonne



Carcassonne is a city in the South of France. It is in the centre of the AUDE department (Languedoc Roussillon). It is close to the Mediterranean coast (under 1hrs by car), to the skiing slops (1h15) and the large city of Toulouse (1hrs by train or by car). It also benefits of the "international" airport with the Ryanair flights.

Mainly known for its fortified castle called “The Cité”, it also has many attractions all around the area.

We are 53 couchsurfers (on the 20th of Decembre 2008) for about 45000 habitants.

HISTORY OF CARCASSONNE
First signs of settlement in this region have been dated to about 3500 BC, but the hill site of Carsac – a Celtic place-name that has been retained at other sites in the south – became an important trading place in the 6th century BC. The Volcae Tectosages fortified the oppidum.

Carcassonne became strategically identified when Romans fortified the hilltop around 100 BC and eventually made it the colonia of Julia Carsaco, later Carcasum (the process of swapping consonant is a metathesis). The main part of the lower courses of the northern ramparts dates from Gallo-Roman times. In 462 the Romans officially ceded Septimania to the Visigothic king Theodoric II who had held Carcassonne since 453; he built more fortifications at Carcassonne, which was a frontier post on the northern marches: traces of them still stand. Theodoric is thought to have begun the predecessor of the basilica that is now dedicated to Saint Nazaire. In 508 the Visigoths successfully foiled attacks by the Frankish king Clovis. Saracens from Barcelona took Carcassonne in 725, but King Pippin the Younger drove them away in 759-60; though he took most of the south of France, he was unable to penetrate the impregnable fortress of Carcassonne. Main article: County of Carcassonne

A medieval fiefdom, the county of Carcassonne, controlled the city and its environs. It was often united with the County of Razès. The origins of Carcassonne as a county probably lie in local representatives of the Visigoths, but the first count known by name is Bello of the time of Charlemagne. Bello founded a dynasty, the Bellonids, which would rule many honores in Septimania and Catalonia for three centuries. In 1067 Carcassonne became the property of Raimond Bernard Trencavel, viscount of Albi and Nîmes, through his marriage with Ermengard, sister of the last count of Carcassonne. In the following centuries the Trencavel family allied in succession either with the counts of Barcelona or of Toulouse. They built the Château Comtal and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire. In 1096 Pope Urban II blessed the foundation stones of the new cathedral, a Catholic bastion against the Cathars.

Carcassonne became famous in its role in the Albigensian Crusades, when the city was a stronghold of occitan cathars. In August 1209 the crusading army of Simon de Montfort forced its citizens to surrender. After capturing Raymond-Roger de Trencavel and imprisoning and allowing him to die, Montfort made himself the new viscount. He added to the fortifications. Carcassonne became a border citadel between France and the kingdom of Aragon (Spain). In 1240 Trencavel's son tried to reconquer his old domain but in vain. The city submitted to the rule of kingdom of France in 1247, and King Louis IX founded the new part of the town across the river. He and his successor Philip III built the outer ramparts. Contemporary opinion still considered the fortress impregnable. During the Hundred Years' War, Edward the Black Prince failed to take the city in 1355, although his troops destroyed the Lower Town.

In 1659, the Treaty of Pyrenees transferred the border province of Roussillon to France, and Carcassonne's military significance was reduced. Fortifications were abandoned, and the city became mainly an economic center that concentrated on the woollen textile industry, for which a 1723 source quoted by Fernand Braudel found it “the manufacturing center of Languedoc”.

More informations about the History of Carcassonne on the Carcassonne !

WHAT TO VISIT ?
Carcassonne is small enough to walk around, but if you wish to visit the area you will need a car. A 15 minute walk is needed to get from the bottom part of Carcassonne (The Bastide St Louis) to the Cité. In summer there is a bus service. You are planning to come to Carcassonne... Of course the main thing to visit is "The Cité". I do recommend that you visit it during the day, but don't forget to there one the night has fallen. At that time, most tourists have gone (ok, not in summer) the lights have come on and there is that special night feeling...!!! With a little imagination you will be able to attack the old wall and pretend to be a "night". Have fun, the castle is a great play ground ;)

You also have the new part of town: The Bastide Saint Louis. Pass by the tourist office situated "Rue de Verdun", they will be able to give you all the details of things to see. THE CANAL DU MIDI passes through Carcassonne. You can go to the lock to watch boats go through or go for a long walk along the Canals banks in the shade of the old trees. To find the Canal, you must go towards the train station. It is just in front of the station. You can also take a boat ride up the canal. I have never done it but it must be nice :).

More informations about the places to visit in Carcassonne on the Carcassonne and even the Official Website of the Office of Tourism !

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Internet access is possible at the cyber café called ALERTE ROUGE at 73 Rue de Verdun - Carcassonne. There is also a Wifi spot there. You also have a place near the Cité de Carcassonne, at the video club Univers Vidéo at 103 av Gén Leclerc - CARCASSONNE. Speaks English and very friendly. A good place to have a coffee or a drink is Place Carnot, the main square where there is the market on Saturday mornings. It is great to sit there and soak up the sun.

Here are some places where you can get some Internet/wifi Access:


 * Centre d'Information et d'Initiatives des Jeunes Audois (CIJA) - Adress: 48 rue Antoine MARTY BP 855 - Tel: 04 68 25 12 25
 * Espace Culturel Multimédia - Adress: La Roseraie - 25,avenue du Général Leclerc - Tel: 04.68.77.71.99

Nice & Cheap Places to Eat
You are in Carcassonne but have not yet meet up with your host, you are hungry. A nice place to go is "Place Carnot" in the Bastide. You have a few Coffees shops:


 * Le Ptit Moka for a drink; coffee, coke, or beer.
 * Arpin (next to the Petit Moka, to the right) for a croissant, pain au chocolate or sandwich.
 * Le Florian, nice restaurant if you want good quality for a good price. They serve between 12 and 13H30. Afterwards it’s too late, so Be on time. ;)

AVOID: La Mie Calin; rip off and unfriendly. The use pre prepared croissant and food. Not good quality and not traditional.

Nightlife
In the Cité : In the city center (Bastide) :
 * Bar à vin (6, rue du Plô) : Wine and tapas in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with a garden ! Open 11 am – 2 am.
 * Café de nuit (31 boulevard Omer Sarraut) : Drink upstairs, dance downstairs ; if you’re lucky, you’ll see the transformist show on Monday, or why not, some Chippendales. Open 9 pm – 4 am
 * The Celt (5 rue Armagnac) : Irish pub, concerts mostly on Thursdays (lively music) and Sundays (more relaxed and english-speaking atmosphere –free mike on last Sunday of the month) ; free internet, darts, air conditioning, outdoor seating. Open until 2 am
 * O’Sheridan (13 rue Victor Hugo) : The other irish pub, darts too, concerts too, a bit smaller, different atmosphere. Anyway both are not very far so you can try both in the evening. Open 5 pm – 2 am
 * Métronome (3 avenue du Maréchal Foch) : Near the train station (where you see the lights and all the people outside). There, you can eat till 11 pm, sing on karaoke nights (Thursdays), drink, and even dance ; lovely warm owners and atmosphere (maybe slightly too warm in the summer though…). Open until 2 am.
 * Carpe Diem (29 rue du pont Vieux) : Between the city center and the Cité, in fact. This bar, opened on two different streets, offers wine and tapas, open mike on Fridays, and 2 concerts per month. Feels like family, there…
 * Opera bouffe (7 place Davilla) : Half of it is a restaurant, the other half is a bar with dance music (tango, salsa, jazz, or more recent rythms), and salsa dancing groups every week from september to june.

What to do with your bags ?
It is often a problem when you arrive in a town early, and your host can't pick you up immediately. How can you avoid dragging your luggage around all day? Before, there used to be "consigns" in the train stations. Since the terrorist attacks, these consigns have been taken away. In Carcassonne you can:

- leave your bags at some hotels in exchange of about 3 Euros; ask the tourist office for the hotel name.

- be brave, buy a baguette and explain your situation to the "baker" and ask if you can leave your bags at his place. Of course it does not always have to be a baker, try the shoe shop or any other place... It does work!!!

Tourist Office
The main one is situated "Rue de Verdun" in the bottom part of Carcassonne. you will also find a small office after the main entrance of the Cité and another office towards the train station just before the Canal du Midi.

Buying a plane ticket
The best travel agency I have found to buy a plane ticket from is "NOUVELLES FRONTIÈRES" :72 rue de Verdun, Tel 04 68 71 23 01 in the "Bastide" part of Carcassonne. They have good prices (often better than on internet), speak English and are very helpful. The also sell trips with hotels, car rental etc...

COUCHSURFERS IN CARCASSONNE</FONT>
There are about 100 Couchsurfers in Carcassonne and its area. You can check the CS Group of Carcassonne or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings</FONT>
There are sometimes some meetings organised in Carcassonne, just check the CS Group of Carcassonne to see what happen in the city and/or the Regional CS Group of Languedoc-Roussillon to see if there is any event in the area.

Coffee or a Drink</FONT>
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

Owen, Chalp, & dewi Coco & Dewi,

By Train</FONT>
From Paris, the fastest train is from the Gare de Lyon to Montpellier. You change at Montpellier and take another train to Carcassonne. Sometimes, you might have to change again at Narbonne. Of course, the fastest is when you only change at Montpellier, and then the trip lasts about 5h06. If you want to save a day, why not take the Night Train from Paris Austerlitz to Carcassonne. The train leaves just after 9pm and arrives in the morning before 6am. From Montpellier, the trip lasts about 1,5 hours. Toulouse is under an hour away, there is a train almost every hour.

By Plane</FONT>
Carcassonne has an International Airport. 466 305 passengers passed through Carcassonne's airport in 2007. Ryanair is the only company landing in Carcassonne. Do not look for a flight to Paris, it does not exist!!! You can fly to or from the following destinations: - London Stansted - Charleroi - Dublin - Liverpool - East Midland - Shannon (will start again on the 1st of April 2008) - Cork (New flight from 28/05/2008) The prices are really affordable, from about 10 euros onwards.

By bicycle</FONT>
Either you are mad, crazy or just full of lots of courage. The best way is to peddle hard and fast. The nicest and safest is to peddle along the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi joins the 2 seas; the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It starts in Sète to finish near Bordeaux. If you follow the Canal, you will be protected from the hot summer sun by the trees that are over 100 years old for some of them. You will be able to enjoy the tranquillity and calm along the Canal. The good thing is that the canal is almost flat so easy to peddle long distances.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY</FONT>



 * '''The European general emergency phone n° is 112 This number can normally be used even on a mobile phone that has no more credit. So if you need the police, firemen or an emergency doctor, dial the 112.

Tel: 17 or 04.68.26.11.00 Tel: 04.68.24.24.24 or in emergency 04.68.24.27.73 Tel: 18 Tel: 115
 * Police Station:
 * Health Urgency:
 * Hospital:
 * Fireman Station:
 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor(SAMU):

INTERESTED LINKS</FONT>
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
 * Regional CS Group: Languedoc-Roussillon
 * City CS Group: Carcassonne


 * Carcassonne on Wikivoyage
 * Carcassonne on Hitchwiki
 * Carcassonne on Wikipedia



hitch:Carcassonne