Walk the iconic ramparts of Carcassonne – History Blog

For the first time in a century, the iconic medieval walls of the city of Carcassonne in southwestern France are open to visitors. After more than two years of restoration work and €5.6 million (US$6.2 million), the entire 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) of the upper walls are now walkable, offering stunning 360-degree views of the city, castle and cathedral.

The restoration project restored 1,000 feet of interior curtain wall, including all nine towers. Crushed sandstone was repaired or replaced, and the tower interiors were refurbished with new oak floors. This is the largest curtain wall restoration since the mid-19th century reconstruction by architect Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc.

From this Friday, September 13, 2024, visitors will be able to walk 1,500 metres of the legendary Aude ramparts. “You’ll need a full 2 ​​hours to discover all the sights, walk along the ramparts and take time to admire the views of the Corbières, the Massif Central and the city interior. You’ll also have to take time to read all the information panels,” reveals Cathy Jeanjean.

Evidence of human habitation on the top of Carcassonne dates back 5,500 years, with a fortified settlement there from the 8th century BC. Many fortifications were built subsequently. In the 3rd century BC, the Celtic tribe Volcae Tectosages took over the site and built it into a hillfort called Carcassonne. In the 1st century BC, after Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, the Romans established a veterans’ colony and fortified the site again.

Germanic invasions during the late empire prompted the construction of a more extensive defense system in the late 3rd century AD. This was the template for the iconic medieval walls and towers that still stand today. There were 35 to 40 45-foot-tall semicircular towers along the curtain wall, and at least 40 gates. The Visigoths rebuilt the Gallo-Roman walls when they conquered France in the 5th century.

In 1130, Bernard Atton V, Viscount of Nîmes, ordered the restoration and expansion of the ancient city walls to completely surround the castle of Carcassonne. In 1209, Pope Innocent III targeted the fortress of Carcassonne and the Viscounts of the House of Trencavier during his crusade against the Cathars, who were protected by the Viscounts. The city was besieged and fell in 15 days due to mutiny (the Viscounts were poisoned), and the crusader general Simon de Montfort claimed the capture of Carcassonne. After several small-scale conflicts, it became the property of King Louis VIII of France.

With the rise of modern warfare and artillery in the 17th century, the castle’s fortifications became obsolete, and the double walls were stolen for building material. In 1849, the French government ordered the demolition of Carcassonne’s fortifications, but the mayor, a great historic preservation enthusiast, recruited more people to change the government’s decision. In 1853, he hired Eugene Viollet-le-Duc to restore the walls. He added a few oddities here and there (a drawbridge that had never existed before), but even so, today Carcassonne is the largest and best-preserved medieval fortification in Europe.