Discover the Château and ramparts of Carcassonne. Walk along the galleries, the fortified walls, and the ramparts. Explore the archaeological museum with your self-guided ticket.

About this ticket

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
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Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details. Learn more
Valid 1 day: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line

Highlights

Discover the home of one of the most powerful 12-century French families
Climb the square Bishop's Tower, the only construction that straddles both city walls
See the Salle Pierre Embry, a window composed of 3 polychrome alabaster statues from the early 15th century

Full description

Carcassonne was settled as early as the 6th century BC and later became an important Roman town. It was fortified in the 4th century and was a strategic site in the Middle Ages. It took on its definitive shape in the 13th century with the king’s decision to construct the distinctive double-walled ramparts and extend the castle. The city was restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century and is a testimony to 1,000 years of military architecture and 2,500 years of history. Left in ruins after the the Cathar Crusade (1209-1229), the Inquisition and exile of the Trencavel family, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned by the French state in 1844 to restore the city of Cathar. Completed in 1911 under the direction of his pupil Paul Boeswillwald, the royal city was returned to its original splendor, finally being inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1997. In a new, self-guided addition to this tour, guests are invited to see the magnificent views from the medieval western ramparts.

Includes

Self-guided tour of castle courtyards, archaeological museum and ramparts
Leaflet in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or Polish

Audio guide (can be rented on-site for a fee of 3 Euros)

Covid-19 precautions

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

Chateau et Remparts de la Cite de Carcassonne 1, rue Viollet-le-Duc 11000 Carcassonne. Please note that this attraction closes at 4:00 PM on 24th December and 31st December.

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Important information

What to bring

Cash

Know before you go

Last admission 45 minutes before closing time
Closed January 1, May 1, and December 25
The Ramparts will also be closed on the July 14 due to fireworks
Please note that this attraction closes at 4:00 PM on December 24 and 31
A leaflet in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or Polish is included
Accessibility:
Number of floors visited during the tour: 2
Monument accessible to people with limited mobility (Barbican and main courtyard) The site holds a 'Tourism and Disability' label
Entrance is free for under 18s and visitors who are under 26 with EU ID, subject to reserving a timeslot on the Castle and Ramparts of Carcassonne website

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 1288 reviews

Review summary

Value for money
4.3/5
Service
4.5/5
Organization
4.5/5

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Very very good. We had a problem with our accommodation in Carcassonne and we couldn't go to the citadel on the day we had reserved the tickets. We went the next day and they told us no problem. We entered without queuing and enjoyed the citadel, which is beautiful and a highly recommended experience.

August 24, 2022

The tour of the castle and the ramparts are highly recommended. Had ordered skip the line tickets so we had no queues, a real plus!! We went on a slightly lesser day, cloudy and around 25 degrees which was ideal. Had 2 children aged 9 and 10 who went up and down the stairs without any problems. Top location, especially if you're in the area!!

August 19, 2022

You also have to queue with an e-ticket. Go to the entrance to find the correct row (one is for e-tickets, the other is for the box office). However, the line does go very fast because it is only scanning. The castle was certainly beautiful to see, and to read the history. I think a guide would be nice too. In the beginning you are with a lot of people, but I skipped that film and at a certain point you don't notice it anymore, that busyness. The further I got, the calmer. Impressive to be able to see the castle. The town itself was very disappointing to me, I couldn't see anything of the beauty, I only saw tourists and signboards…

August 17, 2022

Carcassonne: Castle and Ramparts Skip-the-Line Ticket

Carcassonne: Castle and Ramparts Skip-the-Line Ticket

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