Welcome to Carcassonne Je t’Aime – your guide to visiting, living in and falling in love with Carcassonne, the medieval jewel of southern France. Perched above the River Aude in the Occitanie region, the Cité de Carcassonne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest intact medieval fortress in Europe, drawing over four million visitors every year with its 52 towers, 3 km of double ramparts and cobbled lanes steeped in Cathar history. But Carcassonne is far more than its famous castle walls. Explore the Bastide Saint-Louis with its buzzing Place Carnot market, discover Languedoc wines from Minervois, Corbières and Cabardès vineyards, taste the region’s legendary cassoulet, cruise the Canal du Midi, or simply wander through a city where everyday life happens against a backdrop of 2,500 years of history. Whether you’re planning a holiday, looking for the best restaurants, searching for day trips, or dreaming of buying a property and moving to the Aude, our insider guides, itineraries and up-to-date event listings have everything you need. Carcassonne – just 45 minutes from the Mediterranean beaches, one hour from skiing in the Pyrenees and perfectly placed between Toulouse and Narbonne – really is the secret of the south.