42 Rue Victor Hugo

Activities

• Stroll around the cobbled streets of Carcassonne and pop into attractive churches; the Lesser Basilica of St-Nazaire is enchanting, as is the main cathedral, St-Michel
  
  
• Visit the medieval walled Cité, a World Heritage Site, just a 15-minute walk away. The view from the old bridge over the River Aude is spectacular, both by day and night
  
  
• Take a tour of the Viscount's Castle, built on Roman foundations, then restored in the mid 19th century
  
  
• Cycle, walk or boat along the stunning Canal du Midi, (also a World Heritage Site), which used to link the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It's lined with beautiful stone bridges and plane trees
  
  
• Walk through the lices, the space between the outer wall of the Cité and the inner fortifications, which has fabulous views of the Pyrenees
  
  
• Foodies should flock to the Saturday morning market in the Place Carnot and the Les Halles meat and fish market
  
  
• Visit in July, when there's a month-long arts and music festival held in the town, most of which is free, and a fabulous Bastille Day firework display
  
  
• If you've got a car, it's an ideal base for day trips: within an hour you could stand on a Mediterranean beach at Gruissan, go river swimming at Lagrasse, watch golden eagles in the Corbieres, explore any number of Cathar castles, sample wine in the Minervois or go big city shopping in Toulouse!
  
  
• Stock up on local delicacies at Place du Château, a quaint old-fashioned store full of regional specialties: cassoulet, olives aux herbes and grés de la cité (a sweet mix of almonds and vanilla wrapped in puff pastry)