The castle has withstood the sands of time for a thousand years.

Carcassonne is very close to Toulouse, and you can take a train or bus directly to it, which takes about an hour. Before coming here, I always thought Carcassonne was just a small village because Google Maps showed that there was no bus line here except for the airport express. After coming here, I found that although it is not as big as a big city like Toulouse, it is still a town, especially in the city center, where the roads are quite wide, and the streets are like those in big cities.
There is usually only one purpose for coming to Carcassonne, which is to admire this medieval castle, and there is nothing else worth playing in the whole city. Carcassonne Castle was built in the 3rd century and was originally a Gallic settlement, later occupied by the Romans, Goths, and Crusaders. In the middle and late Middle Ages, after two wars, Carcassonne was renovated and expanded to include the fortifications, enclosing the entire city within thick walls. After that, the castle underwent several renovations, and in the 19th century, the French government decided to demolish the castle to develop the economy. Fortunately, the citizens of Carcassonne and many historians and architects united as one, and finally forced the authorities to overturn this decision. It was also thanks to the unremitting efforts of the residents and experts that this magnificent building complex can be displayed in front of the world today, and we are fortunate to appreciate it.
There is also an interesting story about this castle. A thousand years ago, the ruler of this city died in a war with the Franks. His wife, Queen Carcass, took on the responsibility of defending the town and led the soldiers to fight bravely for five years. In the sixth year, the city was short of supplies, so she ordered people to feed a fat pig with the few grains they had and then threw the pig under the city. The enemy army saw this and thought that the city was still full of food, so they ended the siege. In the end, the city was named after the queen.
After visiting the castle, you can take a stroll around the small town. The city is not big, but it is full of autumn everywhere.
If you are flying in Carcassonne, you can take the airport express at the train station for 6 euros. It is more recommended to walk from the city center to the airport, which takes about 50 minutes.
Cassoulet is a must-eat delicacy in Carcassonne, and you don't have to look for it on purpose, as it is everywhere in the castle. It is mainly made of white beans and minced meat with various spices, which are slowly stewed in a casserole. I tried it, and I can't say it was particularly delicious, but at least it still suits the taste of Chinese people.

Post by GraceBeaumont | Nov 21, 2024