Carcassonne
Carcassonne was added to the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997.
A fortified settlement existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands since before Roman times. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its narrow cobbled streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. The Romans fortified the hilltop in about 100 BC. In 462 the Romans officially ceded the town to the Visigoth king Theodoric II who had actually held it since 453. Theodoric added more fortifications and is thought to have begun the predecessor of the basilica that is now dedicated to Saint Nazaire. In 508 the Visigoths successfully foiled attacks of the Frankish king Clovis. Saracens from Barcelona took Carcassonne in 725, but King Pippin the Younger drove them away in 759. In 760, Pippin took most of the south of France, although he was unable to penetrate the impregnable fortress of Carcassonne.
In 1067 Carcassonne became the property of Raimond Bernard Trencavel, viscount of Albi and Nîmes through his marriage with Ermengard, sister of the last count of Carcassonne. In the following centuries the Trencavel family allied in succession either with the counts of Barcelona or of Toulouse. They built the Château Comtal and the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire. In 1096 Pope Urban II blessed the foundation stones of the new cathedral. Saint Dominic preached there.
Carcassonne became famous in its role in the Albigensian Crusades, when the city was a stronghold of occitan cathars. In August 1209 the crusading army of Simon de Montfort forced its citizens to surrender. After capturing Raymond-Roger de Trencavel and imprisoning and allowing him to die, Montfort made himself the new viscount. He added to the fortifications. Carcassonne became a border citadel between France and the kingdom of Aragon (Spain).
Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of conservation. It is interesting to note that whereas Viollet-le-Duc believed that the original roofs of the turrets would have been constructed with the grey tiles used in the Loire chateaux, modern historians now think the turrets would have had flatter red tiled roofs. Now you can see examples of both types of roof and decide for yourself which you think would have been more representative of the original town.
During the month of July there are concerts and other entertainments held in the open air theatre within la Cite. During August there is jousting in the lists which is well worth a visit for all the family.
Inside the church you will see a horseshoe arch separating the nave from the altar. This is typically Visigothic. All the experts agree that the capitals above the pillars holding it, are Visigothic. The pillars themselves are “antique marble re-used.” Maybe even Roman. So it sounds to me that the church, maybe much smaller, existed in the 8th century and was renovated several times, obviously. The last one was done in 1853 – see the date above the arch.
Outside is a tiny graveyard. Standing in it one sees clearly the Romanesque style of the doors and windows. I believe the door on the left was not the original entrance – that would have been where is now the road, for the church was orientated west-east, as Visigothic churches always were. One entered St. Martin des Puits and saw that lovely arch straight ahead, and the frescoes.
