In 1226, the Viscounty of Carcassonne became part of the royal domain. Chateau Comtal Travel Tips. The castle was built on a former Visigoth fortress of which it kept some parts of walls and two towers on the western side of the Cité, close to the inner wall, above the steepest side of the hill, and on the eastern side are the ditches where you can walk under the walls and see the bridge. Although the outer curtain wall of the cité is French, and the whole site has been substantially restored, the Château Comtal has a strong claim to be called a "Cathar Castle", since when the Catholic Crusader army arrived in 1209, after attacking Raymond-Roger Trencavel's castrum at Bèziers, they then moved on to his main stronghold at Carcassonne. The citadel derives its reputation from its 3 kilometres long double surrounding walls interspersed by 52 towers. A Lady Chapel was added in the early 15th century, adjoining the infirmary and chapel built by Bishop Radulph in the 1260s. This striking hotel stands between the Romanesque Château Comtal and the Gothic Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse, making it a popular destination for history and architecture buffs. The bridge to the entrance of Château Comtal. Magical medieval village and castle experience. The viscounts of Carcassonne and Béziers built the Basilique Saint-Nazaire (1096–1150), and about 1125 the Château Comtal was incorporated into the Visigothic rampart. At the same time the external defensive walls were built, so as to make the town, recently annexed to the Royal domains and made the seat of a senechal, completely impregnable. Chateau Comtal is minutes away. Closed – 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, 1 and 11 November, 25 December, © 2014-2020 Project "Castles". Coming with a rich and violent history, the castles present near Carcassonne are the Peyrepertuse, the Queribus, the Puilaurans and even the Chateau Comtal. Carcassonne is Europe’s largest fortified city that still stands today. First it was a Gaulish settlement but then in the 3rd century the Romans decided to turn it into a fortified town. To reach the cité, walk uphill for about 20 minutes or take a bus, taxi, or the Little Train (summer season only) to the entrance gates. Courtyard of Château Comtal. We recently visited Carcassonne with our two small kids. Courtyard of Château Comtal. 12 Rue Fernand Merlane, Carcassonne, 11000, France, 800-246-8357 The place is absolutely beautiful and the views are astounding - so much I chose to propose to my girlfriend there. The Château Comtal was built in the 12th century by Bernard Aton Trencavel over the western part of the Roman walls. A century later the King of France ordered the reconstruction of the castle. The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a 12th century Medieval castle within the Cité de Carcassonne, the largest Medieval city in Europe with its city walls still intact. Fortifications were abandoned and the town became one of the economic centres of France, concentrating on the woollen textile industry. He had enhanced lines of defence added between 1228 and 1239. Click to read about the best things to do in Carcassonne with kids during a long weekend. The tour with Nathalie was one of the Highlights of my holidays. After his death in 1879, the restoration work was continued by his pupil, Paul Boeswillwald, and later by the architect Nodet. The castle looks amazing and the Rampart walks are amazing. The castle consists of two single-storey buildings, dominated by a square tower, arranged at right angles in a courtyard, enclosed by palisades on the east side. The Château Comtal is a relatively large castle up against the inner ramparts. Vaux-le-Vicomte, château near Melun, France, designed in 1656 by Louis Le Vau for Nicolas Fouquet, who was finance minister to King Louis XIV. Including famous castles, crusader castles and cathar castles. As with most museums, there are audio guides that lead you around and give you information on the rooms and artifacts. It is located in Aude, a department in the southern French region of Occitanie.The city is divided into two parts by the Aude River, the Ville Basse and the Cité - the latter being the finest example of a fortified medieval town in Europe. By the end of the 13th century the town had assumed its definitive appearance as a medieval fortress. Nathalie was an excellent guide - with a lot of knowledge, very charming and funny! A ring of walls with slits for firing arrows and round towers with embrasures run along the walls along the eastern side where the main entrance is. Built in a variety of styles, the oldest parts of the castle can be seen from the courtyard today, and are mainly medieval, as well as Romanesque and Gothic structures, consisting of the west wing, the south wing, and the ground floor of the ‘Pinte’ tower; a watchtower 28 metres in height. Some of the main highlights of the Château include the Keep which is a four-storied square shaped tower that has a vaulted hall and 13th century paintings, and the ramparts (defensive walls) that you get to walk around. The chateau has an intriguing yet violent history. In 1208, when Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against the Cathar heresy, Carcassonne was besieged, and surrendered in August 1209. The main entrance of the castle is at the end of a stone bridge running over a dry ditch. The Château Comtal like comment share history The castle has about 2,500 years of history and has seen the Romans, Visigoths, Saracens and Crusaders. Carcassonne is France's second most visited attraction after the Eiffel Tower. The Chateau Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a medieval castle inside the city of Carcassonne and a part of the Cathar Castles. Great artworks were then undertaken. In 1853, the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Ducwas charged with renovating the fortress, as well as the castle. Developed by. Carcassonne is at the crossing of two major traffic routes: the route leading from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and that from the Massif Central to Spain, skirting the Pyrenees. Check any national, local, and health advisories for this destination before you book. The second entrance to the castle is on the western side. Chateau Comtal is minutes away. Do hire a guide to help you explore the place. The town is 90 km (56 miles) southeast of Toulouse in the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central of France. To learn more about the cookies please click here. Check any national, local, and health advisories for this destination before you book. To learn more about the cookies please click here. Very good 8.2 From 44 reviews. It became an arsenal and supply depot during the Ancien Regime and then during the Revolution. Developed by. Not wheelchair accessible. The barbican is composed in order to offer a central space open on the castle and on its moats. Important: This destination may have COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, including specific restrictions for lodging. It was surrounded by a rectangular fortified enclosure in 1226. Visit the Château Comtal and walk the battlements. Explore the medieval cite of Carcassonne, take a … Recent reviews. The exquisite interior decoration was WiFi and parking are free, and this hotel also features an outdoor pool. This is a must-see for anyone who is looking to find out about the citadel’s rich history. Stepping into the Hôtel de la Cité is like stepping back in time: You're immediately transported to the medieval history of Carcassonne. All year round there are guided tours leaving from the Chateau Comtal ( 12th century) ..except for these dates 1st January, 1st May, 11th November and Christmas day.In addition to the Chateau there is also the Basilique Saint-Nazsaire ( 11th to 14th C),Musee de L'Ecole,Imaginarium ( Croisade albigeoise), Musee de la Chevalerie and of course a walk around the ramparts. History of the Château Comtal in the Medieval City of Carcassonne. The town was Since my daughter dropped out at the last minute it was just us two and she didnt get tired of answering all my questions. (more). Recommended spots to visit include Basilica of Saint-Nazaire (2 mi) and Chateau Comtal (2.2 mi), along with Basilica of St. Nazaire and St. Celse (2.5 mi) and Parc Australien (2.6 mi). In 1247, as a consequence of the Albigensian Wars, the viscounts’ possessions were confiscated by the French crown. The present Romanesque cathedral started to be built in June 1096. The Castle is located at the western end of a rocky spur, on the highest point of the city. In 1659, after the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the province of Roussillon became a part of France, and the town lost its military significance. Inside you can visit a museum laid out in some parts of the habitations, and in the yard, displays of medieval military art, with reconstructions of battles, types of sieges, as well as other historical displays. Château Comtal is part of the Cité de Carcassonne, located just southeast of the modern town of Carcassonne. Very good 8.0. tres bon hotel. Important: This destination may have COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, including specific restrictions for lodging. Plan to stay for hours. The barbican of the Comtal castle of Carcassonne is a half-moon shaped construction, which’s battlement is set on a semi-circular form with in its middle a tower-door. By using our site you agree to the use of cookies. Both routes exist since ancient history. The Château comtal dates back to 1130 when Bernard Ato Trencavel IV commissioned its construction. Make sure to visit the impressive Château Comtal with its excellent views on the ramparts, the city, the vineyards and the Pyrénées in the background. We use them to increase the quality of this site especially for you, they help us understand your needs (help us collect statistics), help our partners deliver the right content displayed on our website. Highly recommended. Chateau Comtal, Carcassonne: the entrance bridge and barbican. Chateau de Vincennes. © 2014-2020 Project "Castles". The earliest known settlement of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC, when a hill-fort was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. … The private chapel of the counts, the Chapel Sainte-Marie, was built in 1150 and the remains of the apse can still be seen. We use them to increase the quality of this site especially for you, they help us understand your needs (help us collect statistics), help our partners deliver the right content displayed on our website. A Roman tower housed the Medieval Inquisition. This is one of the French castles near Paris that you definitely should visit. château comtal 2️⃣ enceintes fortifiées (IVe et XIIIe siècles) 3️⃣ kilomètres de remparts 4️⃣... # 3 December 2020 - 10H02 @leCMN . Two final construction campaigns took place in the 13th and early 14th centuries, following unsuccessful sieges in 1240 and 1280. At the heart of the Cité de Carcassone is the Château Comtal. In the 12th century, the Trencavel dynasty was one of the most powerful families in the South of France. The earliest known settlement of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC, when a hill-fort was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. Cité de Carcassonne is one of the most European famous fortified cities, created in the department of department of Aude, in the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon. What people are saying about Château Comtal. During the turbulent years of the late 3rd and the early 4th century it was protected by the construction of a defensive wall some 1,200 metres in length, the impressive remains of which still survive around two thirds of the interior fortifications of the later town. #LeSaviezVous À l'origine, la salle voûtée du donjon de #Carcassonne était entièrement ornée de peintures. The Medieval Cité lies within the modern city of Carcassonne in the Aude Department, of which Carcassonne is the prefecture, in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It came under Visigothic rule in the 5th century, and resisted repeated attempts by the Franks to capture it. The only way to visit the inside is to buy a ticket for the museum, but the visit is worth the price. The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a 12th century Medieval castle within the Cité de Carcassonne, the largest Medieval city in Europe with its city walls still intact. The earliest known settlement of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC, when a hill-fort was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula with the rest of Europe. Such was the impregnability of Carcassonne that it was never attacked during the Hundred Years' War, even during the Black Prince's raid in 1355. In 1997, Carcassonne was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Easily worth the price. In the 1st century BC, this settlement was absorbed into the Roman culture. Hotels near Chateau Comtal: (0.02 mi) Auberge de Jeunesse Hi Carcassonne (0.04 mi) Chambres le Grand Puits (0.04 mi) Appartements Pech Mary (0.10 mi) La Posada del Castillo B&B (0.10 mi) Hotel de la Cite Carcassonne - MGallery Collection; View all hotels near Chateau Comtal on Tripadvisor Château Comtal de Carcassonne is a Well Preserved,Medieval,Cathar,Castle in France, one the most impressive Castles, Stately Homes, Chateaux Forts and Manor Houses for holidays, exclusive hire, tours, conferences, weddings, and visits. Coronavirus update: Our printing service continues to operate as usual, with framed and unframed prints available for delivery in normal timescales. To visit the castle, you walk over the bridge and pay an entrance fee. During the turbulent years of the late 3rd and the early 4th century it was protected by the construction of a defensive wall some 1,200 metres in length, the impressive remains of which still survive around two thirds of the interior fortifications of the later town. By using our site you agree to the use of cookies. In the 1st century BC, this settlement was absorbed into the Roman culture. The shallow-pitch terracotta tile roofs and red brick … The Cathar Castles is a broad term given to a series of around 20 forts built and used by the Cathars (followers of Catharism) all across France. The Medieval Cité lies within the modern city of Carcassonne in the Aude Department, of which Carcassonne is the prefecture, in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Cité de Carcassonne - History and Facts. WiFi and parking are free, and this hotel also features an outdoor pool. 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