Fortress of Carcassonne: detailed information, description, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The fortress of Carcassonne is an architectural ensemble of buildings, many of which date back to the medieval period, in fact a citadel. It is located in the city of the same name, on the territory of modern France, in the Occitania region, in the department of Aude. Traditionally, this medieval fortress is called Cite. Most excursions in Southern France include a visit to this most interesting architectural monument with a rich history in their programs.

Fortress of Carcassonne (France): description of the city and location of Cité

This fortification was built on the right bank of the Aude River. The fortress is located on a hill, southeast of the modern center of Carcassonne. The city itself has long occupied a good strategic position, controlling the stretch of territory between the Pyrenees and Montaigne Noire, and the route from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. hill, onwhere the fortress is located, is a plateau one hundred and fifty meters high. The area of the city as a whole is 65 square kilometers, which is much larger than the size of all other settlements in the province of Aude.

Early history

The fortress of Carcassonne (France) was known during the Gallo-Roman wars. People have lived on these hills since the primitive era. The Celts built a settlement here, known from the sixth century BC. Then, in 125 BC. e., the Romans came to this territory and founded a fortified camp on this site (castrum Julia Carcaso). It was later incorporated into the province of Gallia Narbonne. The camp became known as Karkasum and gradually received broad autonomous rights and privileges. Therefore, they began to call it "Site" - a fortress that has the title of a city. Some towers and walls that can be seen in modern Carcassonne show traces of Gallo-Roman masonry. After the weakening of the empire, the fortress became one of the strongholds of the Visigoth kingdom. They built their own walls on Roman foundations. In addition, the Visigothic emperor Theodoric ordered the construction of a basilica. In 725, Carcassonne is captured by the Saracens. Legends about this period refer the appearance of the name of the city to this time. Allegedly, when the citadel was besieged by Charlemagne, the wife of the Saracen king, Dame Karkas, tricked him into withdrawing his troops. In fact, the dominion of the Arabs lasted only until 759, when they were expelled from these lands by Pepin the Short.

Middle Ages

From the end of the eighth century, the fortress of Carcassonne belonged to the Carolingians. But since they had neither the means nor the ability to govern the city directly, the counts began to do it instead of them. But they were all petty lords who did not have much influence on the development of their possessions. But when, from the eleventh century, Carcassonne began to belong to the powerful family of the Trencavel viscounts through marriage with the heiress of the last counts, the city changed. A castle was built there, and the dilapidated fortifications were repaired. They surrounded the citadel with a ring. Under the rule of the Trencavels, the city reached its political and cultural heyday. The viscounts were vassals of the Count of Toulouse and the King of Barcelona.

Epic of the Cathars

The walled city of Carcassonne is known for its role in the so-called Albigensian Crusade. Its rulers were tolerant of the Christian dissidents of the time, whom the Roman Catholic Church called heretic Cathars. The Trencavels showed them honor and respect and refused to hand them over to the crusaders. In August 1209, an army led by the papal legate Arno-Amaury took control of the city. Raymond-Roger Trencavel, who went to negotiate with the besiegers, was captured and then, apparently, poisoned. The leader of the crusade, Simon de Montfort, was declared the new viscount. All residents were expelled from the city in the same shirts.

The era of French rule and the Inquisition

When the crusaders captured Carcassonne, the fortress becameoutpost for the capture of Occitania. Simon de Montfort strengthened it even more. Only his allies and nobles and merchants loyal to him were allowed to settle in Site. All other residents of the city were to be built in the vicinity. In fact, in those days, Carcassonne was fortified not to defend against external enemies, but to prevent an Occitan uprising. In the forties of the thirteenth century, the son of Raymond-Roger tried to take the city by storm, but he failed, and he was forced to flee to the kingdom of Aragon. In 1247 the fortress passed under the control of the French. After the establishment of the Inquisition in Occitania, the city becomes one of the outposts of the new religious police. Here appears a special prison for heretics - Mur. Until now, guides show the so-called Tower of the Inquisition. From it one could see the place where heretics were burned at the stake on the banks of the Aude River.

Following years. Ensemble restoration

In the middle of the thirteenth century, the fortress of Carcassonne became the border between France and Aragon. It became so impregnable that during the Hundred Years' War, the British troops could not take it by storm. Nor did the Huguenot armies succeed during the religious conflicts of the sixteenth century. But after 1659, when the entire territory of the province of Roussillon began to belong to France, the border moved to the west, and the importance of Carcassonne decreased markedly. The fortifications were abandoned. The city of Carcassonne itself fell into decay. The fortress in the time of Napoleon was a rather miserablespectacle. The government even decided to demolish it. But the famous writer Prosper Merime led a real public campaign to save the medieval heritage. A little later, the restoration of the historical monument began, led by the most famous specialist in medieval architecture of that time, Viollet-le-Duc.

What a modern Shite looks like

Although the work to restore the old city gave it a not entirely authentic look, this work was recognized as a work of genius. Now the Carcassonne fortress with its architectural ensemble has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. Administratively, all historical monuments are divided between different owners. The walls, the count's castle, towers and fortifications are the property of the state. They are classified as monuments of national importance. And the rest of the territory of the Site belongs to the municipality. Narrow medieval streets, squares and medieval-style restaurants give the city a special charm.

Main Attractions

The fortress of Carcassonne is surrounded by a double belt of fortifications. Their total length is about three kilometers. There are 53 towers and barbicans on the walls to protect the city from siege engines. In addition to them, the main attractions of Cité are the count's castle and the Cathedral of Saints Nazarius and Celsius. In front of the main entrance to the fortress, in front of the Narbonne Gate, you can see the bas-relief of Dame Karkas. The cathedral building is divided into two parts - Romanesque and Gothic. The exterior of the church is decorated with gargoyles andpinnacles. There are also ancient stained-glass windows in the temple. Among the tombstones, a bas-relief in honor of Simon de Montfort is of interest. The so-called count's castle of the eleventh century became an archaeological museum. In addition, on the territory of the citadel there is an exhibition dedicated to the Inquisition, which tells about the history of the tribunal and exhibits instruments of torture.

Carcassonne (fortress): reviews

Tourists who have been here mention this medieval ensemble as an amazing place with an ancient and heroic history. It is beautiful, "fabulous" and completely immerses the traveler in ancient times, as if making him a participant in the events. It can be viewed for hours, in all details. The city seemed to have descended from a medieval engraving. No wonder so many historical films were filmed here. The formidable walls of this fortress exude strength and power. And this impressive building is surrounded by no less picturesque landscapes.