3 days in Carcassonne Itinerary

Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.

Step off the beaten path and head to Chateau Comtal and Palais des Archeveques. Abbaye de Soreze and Musee Dom Robert et de la tapisserie du XXe siecle will appeal to museum buffs. Venture out of the city with trips to Narbonne (Via Domitia of Narbonne & Donjon Gilles Aycelin). There's much more to do: pause for some serene contemplation at Eglise Saint-Vincent de Carcassonne, wander the streets of Cité de Carcassonne, steep yourself in history at Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, and do a tasting at O'Vineyards.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Carcassonne holiday maker tool.

If you are flying in from Ireland, the closest major aiports are Carcassonne Airport, Perpignan-Rivesaltes (Llabanère) Airport, Béziers-Vias Airport and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. In September, daily temperatures in Carcassonne can reach 29°C, while at night they dip to 16°C.