Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a walled medieval town on a hill above the Aude valley in southern France. Go for the ramparts of the Cité and for cassoulet, a slow-cooked bean stew with pork and duck.
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Carcassonne is a city in southern France, in the Aude department of the Occitanie region. Its Cité is an old walled town on a hill, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Much of what you see inside the walls was rebuilt in the 19th century by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, so the towers look more uniform than the medieval originals. Below the hill, the newer lower town has the shops, restaurants and the railway station.
Carcassonne suits a short trip built around the walls, the castle and the local food, especially cassoulet. Plan at least a day for the walls and one evening walk, and two nights if you want a slower pace or time for the Canal du Midi, which runs past the city. Spring and early autumn are the easiest months to visit, because summer brings heat and the largest crowds to the Cité.
Carcassonne in five
- See the Cité late in the dayDay-trip crowds thin by early evening, and the stone turns gold. Walk the ramparts and the lanes after the tour groups leave.
- Book the Château Comtal ahead in peak monthsThe castle inside the Cité sells timed tickets. Check the official monument site for hours, guided tours and entry rules before you go.
- Decide where to sleep: Cité or BastideThe Cité is atmospheric but touristy and steep; the Bastide Saint-Louis has the station, restaurants and lower prices. Both are within a 20–25 minute walk.Béziers
- Walk or bus from the stationThe Cité sits across the canal and river from the station. Allow 20–25 minutes on foot or use a local bus; check the timetable.
Things to do in Carcassonne
See all attractions in Carcassonne
Need to know
- Airport
- Carcassonne (CCF), with seasonal flights; Toulouse is the bigger gateway
- Getting there
- Train from Toulouse about 35–60 min; from Montpellier about 1.5–2 hours
- Getting around
- Walkable; bus between the station and the Cité
- Best base
- Cité for atmosphere; the lower town for value
- Time needed
- 1 long day or 2 days with the canal and wine
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Spring, openAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, open
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Green, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Warm, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Bastille fireworksJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Bastille fireworks
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Peak, hotAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, hot
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberClear10 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Autumn, mildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, mild
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, lights
Average daily high and low in Carcassonne, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan Carnival of Limoux · Feb Carnival of Limoux · Mar Carnival of Limoux
Right now in Carcassonne
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 55%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Carcassonne
09:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°6°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue12°4°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed10°6°16%Wednesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Thu11°9°30%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Fri17°7°33%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sat15°5°4%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun15°9°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 09:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jan–MarCarnival of LimouxCarcassonne
- Aug–SepVisa pour l'imagePerpignan, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Toulouseabout 35–60 min by trainA pink brick city with a big market and the Canal du Midi.Read the guide
- Béziersabout 45–60 min by trainCanal locks and a cathedral hill.Read the guide
- Cathar castlesabout 45–60 min by carHilltop ruins such as Lastours; best with a car or tour.
Before you go to Carcassonne
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Rules for Carcassonne, checked
- France applies Schengen entry rules. Non-EU visitors check their entry requirements on the official France-Diplomatie site before booking, since rules change.Source
- Bringing meat, dairy or plants from outside the EU is restricted. Declare any food you carry, and check the French customs site before you fly.
- Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance in France. For a medical emergency that needs a doctor, the SAMU line is 15.
- Service is included in French restaurant bills by law. Tipping is optional, and rounding up or leaving a few euros is the usual custom.
Plan around Carcassonne
Canal du Midi locks 1 hour east by train
Read the guideToulouseThe pink city, 1 hour west
Read the guideColliourePainters' coast, a longer day trip
Read the guideLanguedoc-RoussillonWine country and Cathar castles
Read the guideGetting around FranceTER trains and fixed fares
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideCarcassonne FAQ
Is Carcassonne worth visiting?
Yes for the Cité: one of the best-preserved walled towns in Europe. It is touristy in daytime, so an evening visit or an overnight stay gives the best experience.
How many days do you need in Carcassonne?
One long day covers the ramparts, the Château Comtal and a cassoulet dinner. Two days add the canal, wine tasting and a Cathar castle.
Is Carcassonne a day trip from Toulouse?
Yes: trains take 35–60 minutes each way. A late departure back lets you see the Cité in the evening light.
How far is Carcassonne's station from the Cité?
About 20–25 minutes on foot across the canal and river, or a short bus ride. Check the bus schedule at the station.
Should you stay inside the Cité or the lower town?
Stay inside if you want atmosphere and quiet evenings; choose the lower town for restaurants, value and an easy station walk.