Carcassonne is a fortified city in the Occitanie region of southern France, best known for its remarkably well-preserved medieval citadel, the Cité de Carcassonne. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited historic sites in France.
🏛️ History at a Glance
Origins: The area has been inhabited since around 3500 BCE. The Romans fortified it in the 1st century BCE and called it Carcaso.
Medieval Significance: In the 12th century, it became a stronghold for the Trencavel family, viscounts of Carcassonne. The city was a center of the Cathar movement (a Christian sect considered heretical by the Catholic Church).
Albigensian Crusade: In 1209, Carcassonne was seized by crusaders under the order of Pope Innocent III to suppress the Cathars.
French Royal Domain: It became part of the French kingdom in 1247 and was further fortified in the 13th century under King Louis IX and later his successor, Philip the Bold.
Restoration: By the 19th century, the citadel was in disrepair. Architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc led a major restoration (sometimes controversially) that gave the Cité much of its current appearance.
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