Carcassonne: Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket
Duration
1 day
Free cancellation
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience's start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience's start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience's start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it's canceled because the minimum isn't met, you'll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Last Minute Availability
Highlights
- Discover the home of one of the most powerful 12th-century French families
- Climb the square Bishop’s Tower, which straddles both city walls
- See the Salle Pierre Embry with three polychrome alabaster statues from the early 15th century
- Walk along the castle galleries, fortified walls, and ramparts
- Explore the archaeological museum inside the medieval fortress
Included
- Self-guided tour of castle courtyards, archaeological museum and ramparts
- Leaflet in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or Polish
Excluded
- Audio guide (rental on-site for €4, offered in the following languages: French, English, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, and German)
Meeting Point
Full Description
Carcassonne was first settled as early as the 6th century BC and later developed into an important Roman town. It was fortified during the 4th century and became a strategic location in the Middle Ages. In the 13th century, the city took on its defining form when the king ordered the construction of the distinctive double-walled ramparts and the expansion of the castle.
After suffering damage during the Cathar Crusade (1209–1229), the exile of the Trencavel family, and the activities of the Inquisition, the site fell into ruin. In 1844, the French state commissioned architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to restore the city of Carcassonne. The restoration was completed in 1911 by his student Paul Boeswillwald, returning the royal fortress to its former appearance. The site was later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
With this self-guided ticket, visitors can explore the castle courtyards, archaeological museum, and defensive ramparts. You can walk along the galleries and fortified walls while enjoying views from the medieval western ramparts and discovering centuries of military architecture and history.
Know Before You Go
- Closed January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
- The Ramparts will be closed on July 14 due to fireworks.
- The last entrance is one hour before closure.
- Monument is accessible to people with limited mobility (Barbican and main courtyard).
- Free entrance: The first Sunday of January, February, March,
- November and December and during European Heritage Days (3rd weekend of September each year).
- Conditions of Visit: Scooters, bicycles, helmets, non-folding strollers, and large luggage are not permitted inside the Château Comtal or on the ramparts.
- Animals are also not allowed inside the monument.
What to bring:
- Passport or ID card
- Cash
From
Per Person
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