Editing Carcassonne (section)

== Main sights ==

=== The fortified city ===
{{Main|Cité de Carcassonne}}
[[File:Painting of Carcassonne from 1462.jpeg|thumb|596x596px|This [[Medieval art|medieval drawing]] of Carcassonne from 1462, discovered by Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille in the [[Gaignières]] collection of the [[Bibliothèque du Roi|Bibliothèque Royale]], had a major influence on the project to restore Carcassonne. It reinforced [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc|Viollet-le-Duc]]'s idea that all of the towers were topped with conical [[Roof trusses|roof trussing]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.editions-du-patrimoine.fr/Librairie/Regards/La-cite-de-Carcassonne|title=THE CITE DE CARCASSONE - EDITIONS DU PATRIMOINE|last=Francois de Lannoy|page=18}}</ref>]]

The fortified city consists essentially of a concentric design of two outer walls with 52 towers and [[barbican]]s to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own drawbridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over quite a long period.<ref>{{cite web| title=Historic Cities: Caracassonne | author=midi-france.info| publisher=midi-france.info| url=http://www.midi-france.info/030101_carcassonne.htm}}</ref> One section is Roman and is notably different from the medieval walls, with the tell-tale red brick layers and the shallow pitch terracotta tile roofs. One of these towers housed the [[Inquisition|Catholic Inquisition]] in the 13th century and is still known as "The Inquisition Tower".

Carcassonne was demilitarised under [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] and the [[Bourbon Restoration in France|Restoration]], and the fortified ''cité'' of Carcassonne fell into such disrepair that the French government decided that it should be demolished. A decree to that effect that was made official in 1849 caused an uproar. The antiquary and mayor of Carcassonne, Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, and the writer [[Prosper Mérimée]], the first inspector of ancient monuments, led a campaign to preserve the fortress as a historical monument. Later in the year the architect [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]], already at work restoring the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, was commissioned to renovate the place.

In 1853, work began with the west and southwest walls, followed by the towers of the ''porte Narbonnaise'' and the principal entrance to the ''cité''. The fortifications were consolidated here and there, but the chief attention was paid to restoring the roofing of the towers and the ramparts, where Viollet-le-Duc ordered the destruction of structures that had encroached against the walls, some of them of considerable age. Viollet-le-Duc left copious notes and drawings upon his death in 1879 when his pupil [[Paul Boeswillwald]] and, later, the architect Nodet continued the rehabilitation of Carcassonne.

The restoration was strongly criticized during Viollet-le-Duc's lifetime. Fresh from work in the north of France, he made the error of using slate (when there was no slate to be quarried around) instead of [[terracotta]] tiles. The slate roofs were claimed to be more typical of northern France, as was the addition of the pointed tips to the roofs.

=== Lower town ===
[[File:The ville basse, Carcassonne.jpg|thumb|Lower town across the [[Aude (river)|Aude]] river]]
The '''ville basse''' dates to the [[Late Middle Ages]]. Founded as a settlement of the expelled inhabitants of the town sometime after the crusades, it has been the economic heart of the city for centuries. Though once walled, most of the walls in this portion of the town are no longer intact. The [[Carcassonne Cathedral]] is in this part of the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ville-Basse |publisher=Britannica|title=Ville Basse &#124; Carcassonne, France &#124; Britannica }}</ref>

=== Other ===
{{wide image|Carcassonne Cite.jpg|1200px|align-cap=center|The fortified city of Carcassonne and the Pont Vieux crossing the [[Aude (river)|Aude]] river}}

Another bridge, [[Pont Marengo]], crosses the Canal du Midi and provides access to the [[Gare de Carcassonne|railway station]]. The [[Lac de la Cavayère]] has been created as a recreational lake; it is about five minutes from the city centre by automobile.

Further sights include:
* The [[Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus]]
* The [[Carcassonne Cathedral]]
* Church of St. Vincent