Friday, September 7, 2012
Sightseeing in Carcassonne
No bike riding today. The BMW will stay in the garage and I will walk to
the old city of Carcassonne, the Citadel.
After breakfast, I took my camera and walked twenty minutes to the old gate
of the citadel. It is a few minutes past nine but it is already very warm.
Over the old bridge you cross the river from the new town to the old and then
you have to walk uphill to the main gate, but it is worth it.
The old bridge
The main gate is the first of a number of gates. First you get into the old
city within the walls and then you can walk to the castle.
The main gate to the old city
Because the castle only opens at ten, I stroll around the castle before it
is opened for the public. It is very impressive to see the high and strong walls
of the city and the castle.
Strong walls
Finaly at ten o'clock, the gate of the castle opens and I am one of the first
to buy a ticket.
The first gate to the castle (and the ticket office)
From the ticket office, within the outer defencewalls of the castle,
you have to cross another bridge to get to the entrance of the castle itself.
The last bridge to cross to the castle gate
Inside the castlewalls is a big courtyard with two tall trees ( I wonder if
they were in the original design....) and from the courtyard you can get in
the main building or on the wall around the city.
The courtyard
The inside of the castle in nice but for me it was little disapointing because
it is not equipped like when people lived here but like a museum with artefacts.
Museum inside, nice, but not what I hoped for
After visiting the castle itself, I went to the cathedral that is within the
city walls. That was very nice to because it is still in use and not a museum.
The church is still in use and very nice with its big stained glass windows
The outside of the church
Then I strolled through the crowded and narrow streets of the old city. Unfortunately
the stores are mainly souvenir shops and cafe/restaurants, with the exception
of a few art shops.
Shopping street in the old city
Then I wanted something else to drink beside the cold water I had aso I went to
a cafe to have a cappucino. I think the most expensive cappuccino I ever had because
it costed me 4.50 euro and it was not even a real cappuccino but coffee with a lot of
whipped cream.
Cafe with whipped cream
I had not yet walked on the big wall around the city so I went back into the castle to
get on the wall and enjoy the views.
On the big wall around the city
Before I left, I walked all around the inner citywall and there I made a picture of myself.
Here I am, in old Carcassonne
It was an interesting day and tired from all the walking and climbing and the hot weather,
I walked back to the hotel, through the streets of the new city.
In new Carcassonne
At seven PM, it was time for dinner so I went to a restaurant, very close to the hotel and
ordered the plat du jour (the dish of the day). I had a very good meal with a glass
of good red wine and a coffee as desert for only 11,50 Euro !
The restaurant near the railwaystation and the harbour in Carcassonne
The - plat du jour -
Tomorrow I will ride North to Saint Junien, near Limoges. I booked a hotel, Hotel Saint Junien Azur
on 10 rue Evariste Galois.
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