About Château Comtal Tickets
History Of The Monument
Château Comtal, also known as Count’s Castle, is a medieval cathar castle in the Cite of Carcassonne that has 2500 years of impressive history. The castle was built in the 12th century by Bernard Aton Trencavel of the Trencavel family which was one of the most powerful dynasties of southern France. In 1208, under the commission of Pope Innocent III, a crusade was called for against the Cathar heresy and in August 1209, Carcassonne was besieged and surrendered. It was annexed to the royal domain in 1226 and subsequently became a fortress protected by a double outer wall. The structure defended the border between France and Aragon until 1659 when the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed by which the town of Carcassonne lost its military significance and fortifications were abandoned. The castle was restored in 1853 by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Ducwas, and after his death the work was continued by Paul Boeswillwald and Nodet.
Explore Château Comtal
- La Foire des Grenouilles Celebrate La Foire des Grenouilles with Château Comtal Tickets when the streets of Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit become vibrant and lively. This festival, celebrated every year on Whitsunday, features free shows and performances like street theatre, live concerts and art exhibitions. You can see markets selling pottery, jewellery, and bags and the ‘Le Coin des Enfants’ kids’ zone with old-school games.
- About sheep and more during the Fête de la Transhumance The custom of migrating sheep from low pastures to higher grounds is commemorated during the Fête de la Transhumance festival. It is a cultural celebration that shows everyone that shepherds are still part of the land, history and economy. With your Château Comtal Tickets, you can see hundreds of sheep walking down the streets along with colourfully dressed shepherds during the festivity.
- Great maritime festival Escale à Sète Sète organises the Great Maritime festival every two years to celebrate and honour maritime traditions. Escale à Sète is a seven-day celebration during which impressive tall ships from France and other parts of the world arrive at Sète. You can book Château Comtal Tickets to see the
- Inspirational contemporary art museum in Sérignan Musée Régional d’Art Contemporain is a renowned art museum in Sérignan that houses an extensive collection of contemporary artworks. There are 550 different objects depicting the history of art which are regularly rotated by theme or poetic approach. You can use your Château Comtal Tickets to see the “La Cabane Éclatée aux Caissons Lumineux Colorés” permanent display and attend temporary art exhibitions.
- Enter Spi-k-tri Street Art Universe in Ferrals-les-Corbières Witness over 2000 pieces of artworks at the Musée Spiktri Street Art Universe which is a modern art museum featuring the street art collections of artist Spi-k-tri. The Château Comtal Tickets give you access to the two main buildings and all the six storeys of the museum. Apart from the unique murals and quirky paintings, you can also see statues and exhibits made of recycled materials.
- Château de Peyrepertuse is one of the ‘Five Sons of Carcassonne’ Visit Château de Peyrepertuse which is a popular Cathar castle that explains the impressive history and rich culture of the region. This ruined fortress is a magnificent architecture that sits on the top of a rocky ridge. You can explore the remains of a chapel, climb to the top to catch an enthralling view of the area and see the polygon buildings used by the army.
- Barjac changes scenery during the antique and brocante fair the town of Barjac in southern France turns frenzy during the ‘Foire aux Antiquités et à la Brocante’ fair that takes place for four days around August 15 and the Easter weekend. The entire village turns into a huge open-air brocante with 400 exhibitors from all over France displaying their products.
- When in Uzès, do as the locals and go to one of the weekly markets use your Château Comtal Carcassonne tickets and take a trip to the weekly market of Uzès where you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, local goodies and much more. Uzès has two weekly morning markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays at La Place aux Herbes. These markets are a treat for foodies as you can find around 200 market stalls featuring several food items.
- Foire à la Brocante: Large antiques fair in Pézenas the Château Comtal Tickets include entry to Foire à la Brocante which is a popular antiques fair in Pézenas. Hosted on two Sundays every year, this fair is celebrated with huge pomp and show and the historic town centre turns into a haven for vintage treasure hunters. You can see several different artefacts like ancient enamel coffee makers, life-like statues and dame-jeanne.
- Uzès: A Southern French town to discover fondly nicknamed as the ‘French Tuscany’, Uzès is a quaint town in the Gard department of Southern France. Situated between Nîmes, Avignon, and Alès, Uzès features a labyrinth of medieval streets, narrow lanes and ancient architecture. You can see many restaurants, galleries, boutiques and weekly markets lining the town.
- Getting to know Arles by its Roman monuments Drenched in over 2500 years of history, Arles is a wonderful town nestled between Provence and Camargue. Upgrade your Château Comtal Tickets to take a trip to this UNESCO World Heritage site and witness many classic antiquities and Roman monuments. You can visit important landmarks like Saint-Trophime church, Place de la République and the amphitheatre.
- A local’s guide to Béziers for first time visitors Béziers is a picturesque yet underrated village in southern France that is full of surprises. This hidden gem has recently been renovated and is now an even more pleasant town. You can take a stroll through the meandering streets, explore French history, taste wine from the terrace and visit iconic attractions like Place Jean Jaurès, Saint-Nazaire Cathedral, and Place de la Madeleine.
- Reach for the sky at Cordes-sur-Ciel walk through the beautiful streets of Cordes-sur-Ciel village that look like a fairytale with your Château Comtal Carcassonne tickets. Touted to be one of the most beautiful villages of France, Cordes-sur-Ciel is an enticing destination with a multitude of historical landmarks. You can climb the huge Mondargne rock and witness stunning views from the top.
- Celles, the village that resisted the Lac du Salagou take a quick trip to the abandoned hamlet of Celles and soak in the beauty of its solitude and calmness. This little village was evacuated while building a dam to stop the flow of water from the lake Lac du Salagou. The village is a vibrant palette with the vivid red land standing against the blue of the waters and sky and houses many ancient buildings.
- Action and relaxation in Rennes-les-Bains blessed abundantly by Mother Nature, Rennes-les-Bain is a beautiful village nestled in the heart of a green valley. It features several hot springs with thermal waters that have healing properties to cure medical ailments like rheumatism and sin problems. You can relax and rejuvenate in the spa resorts here with hot spring swimming pools.
Plan To Visit
Opening Hours:
From April 1 to September 30: Château Comtal is open from 10 AM to 6:15 PM on all days of the week. The last entry to the Castle is by 5 PM and to the Ramparts is 5:45 PM.
From October 1 to March 31: The castle operates from 9:30 AM to 4:45 PM every day. The last entry to the Castle is by 3:45 PM and to the Ramparts is 4:15 PM.
Location: 11000 Carcassonne, France
Château Comtal is a part of Cité de Carcassonne, which is located to the southeast of the Carcassone town. The castle can be reached by car, bus or walking directly.
- By bus: Take the Line 4 bus to reach Cité de Carcassonne from where you can walk to the entrance of the castle.
- By car: You can drive or hire a cab to reach Château Comtal.
- By walk: Walk uphill for about 20 minutes from the city centre to the Cité.
The best time to visit Château Comtal is during the early morning hours as soon as the castle opens so that you can explore the place without the tourist crowds. Visit the castle on July 14, which is the Bastille Day, to witness an enchanting fireworks display over the citadel. It is advisable to avoid buying Château Comtal tickets during July and August as the castle would be busy brimming with tourists.
- Château Comtal Tickets include free entry to the castle and access to the ramparts.
- It takes around 2 hours to tour the castle and walk the ramparts and hence plan your day accordingly.
- Audio guide tours are available in multiple languages including English.
- The château and citadel are wheel-chair accessible only in some areas while the sharp cobblestone lanes and steps leave some areas off-limits.
- You can find several restrooms, shops and restaurants in the citadel and an ATM, visitor information centre and paid parking space outside the city gates.
FAQ's
Why is Chateau Comtal popular?
Chateau Comtal is the most noteworthy monument in the Cite of Carcassonne with a history of more than 2500 years. Located in the centre of the citadel’s defensive system, the fortification has witnessed many historical events. The castle in the present day, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features many ramparts, galleries, museums and offers stunning views of the scenery.
Who built the Chateau Comtal?
Chateau Comtal is a medieval castle that was built by Bernard Aton Trencavel in the 12th century. After its abandonment, the castle was restored again in 1853 by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc under the commission of Napoleon III. After his death, the work was continued by his student Paul Boeswillwald and later by architect Nodet
What days are Chateau Comtal open?
Château Comtal is open on all days of the week except on January 1, May 1 and December 25. The castle operates from 10 AM to 6:15 PM from April to September and from 9:30 AM to 4:45 PM from October to March.
Where is Chateau Comtal located?
Château Comtal is located in the Cite of Carcassonne which is a medieval citadel within the modern city of Carcassonne in the Aude department. The Comtal Castle is perched atop a hill on the opposite side of the popular Ville Basse winery overlooking the river Aude.
What are other things to do near Château Comtal that are worth visiting in Carcassonne?
- Visit the city’s entrance Narbonne Gate
- Explore Basilica of Saints Nazaire
- Visit Carcassonne Cathedral and see the majestic Gothic architecture
- Visit Museum of Fine Arts and witness French art collections
- Take a tour through vineyards and wineries
- Learn about ancient school life in France at the School Museum
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