Carcassonne Cathedral, Carcassonne (must see)
Built in the thirteenth century, the cathedral originally was a church dedicated to Saint Michael. In the fourteenth century it was so heavily damaged after a visit by the Black Prince of Wales in the Hundred Years' War it was decided to rebuild it as a fortified church.
The cathedral's interior is massive. It has a nave of eight bays with side chapels. The choir is pierced with arched stained glass windows. The ceiling is very high. There are small round stained glass windows near the top of the vault. When the sun is caught by the windows the interior acquires a soft glow.
Two side aisles on either side of the nave are supported alternatively by round and square columns. The ogival Gothic transept and vaults by Pieree de Rochefort show a distinct Scandinavian influence.
In 1803 the church was designated a cathedral to replace the pre-revolutionary cathedral dedicated to Saints Nazarius and Celsus.
The cathedral's interior is massive. It has a nave of eight bays with side chapels. The choir is pierced with arched stained glass windows. The ceiling is very high. There are small round stained glass windows near the top of the vault. When the sun is caught by the windows the interior acquires a soft glow.
Two side aisles on either side of the nave are supported alternatively by round and square columns. The ogival Gothic transept and vaults by Pieree de Rochefort show a distinct Scandinavian influence.
In 1803 the church was designated a cathedral to replace the pre-revolutionary cathedral dedicated to Saints Nazarius and Celsus.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Carcassonne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Carcassonne Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: Carcassonne Cathedral
Sight Location: Carcassonne, France (See walking tours in Carcassonne)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Carcassonne, France (See walking tours in Carcassonne)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Carcassonne, France
Create Your Own Walk in Carcassonne
Creating your own self-guided walk in Carcassonne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Carcassonne Introduction Walking Tour
Nestled in the picturesque region of Occitanie in southern France is the captivating city of Carcassonne.
The name "Carcassonne" is believed to have originated from the Gallic word "Carsac," referring to a fort settlement that was later fortified by the Romans who occupied the area in the 1st century BC.
A legend suggests another, more colorful version of the name,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
The name "Carcassonne" is believed to have originated from the Gallic word "Carsac," referring to a fort settlement that was later fortified by the Romans who occupied the area in the 1st century BC.
A legend suggests another, more colorful version of the name,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Medieval City of Carcassonne Walking Tour
A pig full of wheat was thrown off the battlements. The lady commanding the fortress was a Muslim. The besieging Christians knew Muslims do not eat pig. What is more, the defenders must have plenty of food if they could feed wheat to a pig and throw it over the walls. The siege had lasted five years. The attackers were starving. They left.
Many stories are told about the fortified medieval... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Many stories are told about the fortified medieval... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles