Visit the City of Carcassonne: reservations and prices

Are you planning to visit Carcassonne and its flagship monument? Wanderlix is here to help you visit the City of Carcassonne!

The City of Carcassonne is a must-see monument of the homonymous city. This fortress of the third century is the flagship symbol of the department of Aude and Occitania . Every year millions of visitors plunge into its timeless medieval atmosphere.

From the Pont-Vieux to the vertiginous ramparts, to the Château Comtal, many places of interest make up the tour. That is why we gathered all the essential information to accompany you to the best of your stay. Between the duration of the tour, the price of a ticket and the schedules, find all our tips to visit the City of Carcassonne!

History of the City of Carcassonne

The fortress of Carcassonne is deeply entrenched in French history. It appears both as a protohistoric site, a Gallo-Roman city, a strong wisigothe square, a vicomtal and a senegia. Indeed, its past is at the centre of various power struggles. Originally, the first city walls were erected in the third century under the Roman occupation.

Over time, it also becomes a covety object for the Cathare. But Cité is especially instrumental in defending French borders. It was in 1659 that the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed, thus ensuring the current delimitation between the Spain and France.

In the 19th century, the city was on the verge of demolition and served as a stone quarry. But thanks to the efforts of Viollet-le-Duc and his successor Paul Boeswillwald, the City still maintains its enchanting appearance today. It is also one of the largest restoration projects in Europe.

Our tips to visit the City of Carcassonne

To visit the City of Carcassonne in the best conditions, follow the advice below.

Best times

The City of Carcassonne is accessible all year round. Carcassonne is the highest in summer, April to September . We recommend that you visit places in autumn, between October and November ; or winter, December to March .

For the weather, average temperatures fluctuate from 10° to 29° between January and July. The rainiest months are November, December and April.

We recommend to arrive before 9:30 , the opening hours of the site, to easily park in the parking lot of the medieval city.

The duration of the visit

Several options for visits with different durations are offered at the entrance.

• A free visit with 1h guide document: a full tour of the places, from the castle to the archaeological museum. You will be accompanied by tactile booklets of help to the visit;
• A visit with audioguide from 1h30 to 2h : the same formula with an audio guide in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Catalan. For groups, prior booking is mandatory ;
• A 45 min commented tour: follow a detailed explanation of the points of interest of the City in French, English and Spanish;
• A private visit: with or without catering service and outside the opening hours, offer a special visit to the place.

What one can do and not do in the City

However, there are some internal rules to be respected during your visit to the City of Carcassonne.

• Pets, such as dogs, are Authorized inside the fortress if held on a leash. Nevertheless, they are not accepted during the visit of the ramparts and of the castle Comtal;
• It is authorized to take photos inside the City, but the use should not be neither professional nor commercial ;
• For reasons of safety and proper conduct of the visit, the guide can exclude anyone respectful not rules of good conduct.

What to see and what to do in the City of Carcassonne?

A few steps on its Old Bridge and the City of Carcassonne already reveals itself in all its splendor. In its entrails, enjoy the incomparable atmosphere brought by the walls and preserved buildings. This World Heritage Site Unsco will make you travel in time.

• First of all, play the knights and make the round path by venturing on the ramparts of the fortress ;
• Then the circuit will take you to the Castle Comtal : the sublime residence of the royal family of Trencavel;
• Saint-Nazaire Basilica, another point of interest of the fortified city, promises a singular spectacle with its magnificent stained glass;
• Finally, finish your visit with beauty Museum of the Inquisition.

How much does a ticket cost to the City of Carcassonne?

To enter the City of Carcassonne, buy your ticket online in advance. It must be kept on its own, printed or by telephone, until the Park exits.

• Children under 6 years of age: the visit will be free ;
• Young people between 6 and 17 years old: a ticket will only cost 7 € ;
• Students: the price will also return to you 7 € so justification for the title ;
• For a disabled visitor: the rate is the same as for a student;
• For an adult: a ticket will return to you 12 €.

How to book a ticket for the City of Carcassonne?

Book your ticket online

It is strongly advised to book your seats online. For this, you must first visit the Carcassonne World Heritage Site or the City’s Digital Tourism Office. Then select a visit schedule and a specific date and purchase your ticket based on availability.

On the other hand, tour operators offer guided tours with cut-file. Prices can oscillate 20 € to 400 € depending on the selected options or the number of participants.

Book your ticket on site

If the reservation is made at the Tourist Office counter, the guarantee deposit may be made by a cheque or cash.

Schedules to the City of Carcassonne

The City of Carcassonne opens its doors all year round: being an open medieval city, it is accessible day and night. Only the castle and the ramparts are subject to opening hours:

• Every day: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Between April and September: from 10am to 6:30pm;

How to access the City of Carcassonne?

To reach Carcassonne and its medieval city, several means of transport are available:

By car

The A10, A20 and A61 motorways will lead you directly to Carcassonne. The journey will last 8h de Paris , 1h11 de Toulouse and 10 a.m. de Lille . Alternatively, if you take the bus or train to get to the place, rent a car in Carcassonne for your trips to the region.

Since cars are prohibited within the fortress, three parking spaces are provided for passengers.

• The P0 Parking : It is reserved for guests of local hotels and people with reduced mobility;
• The parking lot P1 : 100 m from the city, it is open to everyone;
• The parking lot P2 : It is located on the island of Cité, gate of Aude.

By train

The medieval city is located in 30 min de marche de la Gare SNCF de Carcassonne. This station welcomes TGV, OuiGo, TER and Intercity.

By plane

To fly to Carcassonne, the Carcassonne-Salvaza airport is best served. To find the most suitable flight offer for your expectations, use a flight comparison like Skyscanner .

Where to stay in the City of Carcassonne?

You will find near the City of Carcassonne many Airbnb , apartments or hotels. To maintain the medieval atmosphere of the places, we recommend you to stay in one of the special hotels in the City or Pont-Vieux if you plan to put the budget there.

But the city of Carcassonne and the department of Aude also reserve several unusual accommodation options to spend your stay in maximum comfort. To find the best accommodation offers, do not hesitate to use Compare hotels .