Château et Remparts (Castle and Ramparts), Carcassonne (must see)

Carcassonne is two cities. The Cite is the medieval fortress city. The city outside the walls, the lower city dates from 1209, when the Cathar citizens of the cite were evicted in Albigensian Crusade. They settled below the walls.

The fortified city is enclosed within two concentric rings of stone walls. There are 53 towers and barbicans designed to frustrate attacks by siege engines. The castle is protected by a dry moat and drawbridge connecting to the Keep or donjon in the center.

The towers in the walls were built over a long period. The Roman style towers have sloped roofs of terra-cotta tiles. The others are topped with Gothic pointed blue slate roofs. One of the towers is known as the "Inquisition Tower." It was used as a prison and torture center by the Catholic Church in the 13th century.

In 1853 restoration work began on the west and southwest walls. The towers of the Porte Narbonnaise and the entrance to the Cite followed. Most of the work was focused on the tower roofing and the ramparts. Restoration was carried out mostly by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. He was criticized for mixing styles but his achievement is extraordinary.