Things to do in Carcassonne | Everything You Need To Know

A trip to the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum), established in the Bastide Saint-Louis in 1836, is one of the most fascinating things to do in Carcassonne for all history, art, and archaeology enthusiasts. It is home to a vast collection of historical artwork, archaeology, and paintings that have been gathered from all around the world. Besides permanent exhibits, the museum also hosts annual temporary exhibitions, conferences, and workshops to raise awareness of the rich heritage, art, and culture of the nation.

Meeting and interacting with a wide range of Australian wild animals and birds is one of the top things to do in Carcassonne for animal lovers. Visit the Le Parc Australien with your family or friends to see and interact with red kangaroos, dromedaries, wallabies, and ostriches. Discover the fascinating lifestyles of marsupials and the world's largest bird species. Observe an ostrich hatching or view the baby animals in the nursery receiving food from their mother. Discover the indigenous culture of the Aborigines and collect some lasting impressions.

Visit the Inquisition Museum to learn about one of Carcassonne's darkest periods and know about the extremism and intolerance towards others during those times. It displays numerous torture equipment and techniques, which were used to punish so-called heretics, Cathars, and even witches from the eleventh century, until the French Revolution. Learning about the high-level Inquisition through trials for heretics, torture, the stake, or other methods of execution is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying things to do in Carcassonne.

Explore Château des Remparts to discover this astonishing feat of military construction and understand how these ramparts helped secure Carcassonne's old city from external attacks. Built in the 12th century, these ramparts are lined with 30 horseshoe-shaped bastions and have 52 towers featuring witch-hat-style roofs. They have transformed Carcassonne into an impregnable city while also adding to its grandeur and appeal. Visit the keep's rooms and a portion of the battlements to admire the architecture and take in the stunning views of the surrounding area and the distant Pyrenees.

Admire the remarkable mix of Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles at the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, a notable landmark in France. While the floor pattern of the sandstone basilica impresses with its Latin cross pattern, the Romanesque tripartite nave, the congregation's oldest edifice, is another architectural marvel. Visit this Jewel of the City to experience one of the best things to do in Carcassonne and admire its stunning stained glass windows, which are among the most exquisite in South France.

If you want to experience one of the most fascinating things to do in Carcassonne, plan a trip to the Chateaux de Lastours, which is a collection of four castles positioned high above the village of Aude on a rocky cliff. These four Cathar castles—Cabaret, Surdespine, Quertibhoeux, and the Tour Régine — differ in size and design and have been designated as historic monument sites. With the natural rock's structure, they create a majestic and regal fortification and present a magnificent sight to behold.

Visit the Museum of School in the centre of Carcassonne, where kids, parents, and teachers may learn about student life during the Third and Fourth Republics. In the museum's five rooms, you can examine teaching tools that were in use from 1880 to 1960. There are interactive lessons available for both adults and kids where one may use vintage quill pens or sergeant major stick pens to relish one of the best things to do in Carcassonne. It now serves as the Centre for Studies and Research on Primary Education in France.

Admire Château Comtal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France's ancient architectural wonders built by the Viscounts of Carcassonne in the 12th century. Despite various renovations over the years, such as the addition of an enclosure, towers, a ditch, and a barbican, it has retained its timeless appeal. The onsite museum houses a collection of sculptures from antiquity and the Middle Ages, while the castle's ramparts provide a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

Behold the Jacobins' Gate, an eighteenth-century entryway and enjoy one of the top things to do in Carcassonne. It is the south gate of the Bastide, built in 1779 on the site of an earlier Gothic gate, and offers age-old charm and photo opportunities. Just next to it is a small stone house with a fountain that used to be the home of the doorkeeper. The gate also had a royal coat of arms attached, but it was damaged during the French Revolution.