This week, I’ve been called out of my usual office and school-run routine to act as the Tour Guide for our luxury hotel barge, Athos.
Alas, I admit that this is shameless use of an opportunity to recall (that is, dig 5 years’ back in my memory) a few of the details about the Carcassonne visit that Athos includes as part of her cruise week-long itinerary.
Athos’ chauffeur-driven visit to the Medieval Cité of Carcassonne is one of the highlights of the week, a destination not to miss while in the Canal du Midi area.
- Carcassonne is the largest double-walled Medieval Cité in Europe.
- The total distance of walls adds up to 2.2km
- It has 52 towers and turrets
- Although coined as “Medieval”, the first settlement here was by a Celtic tribe called the Volkae Tectosages in approximately 600BC
- Some tribes which settled and built on Carcassonne over history include: the Romans, Franks, Moors, Visigoths, Saracens, and eventually at the beginning of the 10thC, the Trencavel Dynasty including Raymond Roger of Trencavel
- Carcassonne underwent a major renovation, often criticized as a reconstruction, between 1858-1898
One of my favourite (and entertaining) historical details to recount for Athos’ passengers is the famous legend of Dame Carcas and how Carcassonne was named. But to hear this told, you’ll have to come spend a week and cruise the Canal du Midi onboard Athos!
