Summer holiday 2006
le Cap D´Agde − France


Thursday, 27th July

Today we have planned a visit to the ancient citadel of Carcassonne. It is a bit of a drive but it is definitely worth the effort. We, because my daughter has decided that she wants to go as well. I have been there before, a year or so ago, but I was never able to visit the chateau comtal, the palace of the count of Toulouse. The last time I was in Carcassonne, there were so many people waiting to get in, that I let the opportunity to visit this part of Carcassonne go by. This time we will visit the palace first, after which we will view the rest of the citadel. At least, these are the plans.

We leave early so we have all the time in the world. After driving through the Minervois for an hour or so we finally reach the town of Trebes. Trebes is situated next to the Canal du Midi and only a few kilometers away from Carcassonne. Here there is a set of locks in the canal through which ships have to pass. The bridge that crosses the canal brings us to the other canal bank where we cover the last few kilometers of road to Carcassonne. The road signs “la Cite” direct us to our goal and in no time we arrive at the large parking area where we park the car and make our way to the Port Narbonnaisse, the main town gate.

We then enter the citadel through the Port Narbonnaise. Through the narrow busy cobblestone streets and amidst an international crowd we make our way to the entrance of the Château Comtal. And an international crowd is certainly is! While walking around I do not just pickup most European languages, but also the conversation of some Japanese visitors. Our first goal is the palace of the citadel. At the Château Comtal we need to line up behind a whole lot of other people. Eventually we do get to buy an admission ticket and of we enter the castle. There is the option of a guided tour, but I prefer to go by myself and see what happens

Walking through the palace gate we find ourselves in a wide courtyard with a large plane tree. We enter the main building and follow the route through the palace. The palace is kind of empty. In a few of the rooms there are sandstone sculptures exhibited of which most of them are of a religious nature. Also there are some old murals to be seen. There are no tapestries hanging from the walls, and there is no antique furniture or body armour to be seen.

The walls are mainly bare; in the hallways there are tombstones on display with here and there a heavy, well sculptured stone lid of a tomb in the shape of a knight in armour. One of the larger rooms that we wander through has been occupied by the gift shop which sells all kinds of memorabilia pertaining to the castle and its sometimes cruel and bloody past. The building itself however, is an impressive one never the less.

This, being the former palace of the count of Toulouse, was a bit of a disappointment I have to say! I had some great expectations about what would be on display here, but it is kind of disappointing.

Having visited the palace we find our way to the city walls that circle around the citadel. From here we have a beautiful view over the new and modern city of Carcassonne. Walking along the length of the walls we eventually reach the entrance of the citadel again. Having seen the highlights, decide that we have had enough for today and head back to Cap D’Agde.

After having visited the castle we start to look out for some lunch. We find this in the shape of halve a French bread with cheese and ham. We walk around the Château Comtal to its East-side and sit down in the shade on one of the cobblestone stairs whilst enjoying our lunch. Having finished our lunch we continue our walk around town and climb to the top of the eastern outside wall. We enjoy the spectacular view for a while across the new city of Carcassonne that stretches into the distance beneath the castle walls.

Across the wall we wander back to the Port Narbonnaisse. Across the path that runs around the city in between its double walls, a horse and carriage ride people around the city walls. During the holiday season actors perform in medieval plays and take part in jousts and sword fights dressed in suits of armor and other medieval clothes.

After a few hours we are back at the Port Narbonnaisse and return to the car and leave for Cap D’agde. On our way back I stop for a few photographs of one of the locks in the Canal du Midi. After a relaxed drive we sit down on the small terrace behind the apartment and have a drink with the family.