Carcassonne is a visitors dream, the magnificent fortified town of La Cité over shadows the tightly woven streets of the Bastide Saint Louis. With the Pic du Nord mountain to the North and the snow covered mountains of the Pyrenees to the South Carcassonne dominates the vinecovered plain around. The canal du midi and the river Aude flank the town. Shady squares and public gardens, luxury merchants houses of the 19th century, streetside bars and cafes all make Carcassonne a pleasure both for the day-tripper and as a base to explore the Montagne Noir and Limoux valley.

The tourist infrastructure of the town is well developed from the luxury of the Great Western Hotel in La Cité to the budget hotels of the low town, the many restaurants, and shops both in town and around the perimeter are the best in the area.
Carcassonne Hotels
History of Carcassonne
Guide to Carcassonne Airport and Car Rentals
Useful Number in Carcassonne

For many visitors by air Carcassonne will be you first port of call. The small regional airport of Carcassonne has been effectively taken over by Ryanair who now fly in from both London and Brussels. The Carcassonne SNCF trainstation has regular links both to Toulouse and down to Narbonne, Montpellier and Bezier. There is a bus service both around town and to outlying towns making Carcassonne the ideal base for those without transport. (Actually I would say it is the only place to be without a car or a bike as nowhere else has any public transport to speak of).

The annual Carcassonne Festival is one of the cultural highlights of the Aude. There are also regular concerts both in the Chateau and the low town. The New Year firework display is mindblowing but if you can't make it then make sure you are here for the finale of the Festival display.

For the more permanent resident Carcassonne is also essential, as the Departmental headquarters and Prefecture it is the centre of local and national government in the Region. The Carcassonne cité d'adminstration, CPAM, and Chambre des Commerce and Maitres it is here where most of your dealing with officialdom will take place.