World Heritage France - Carcassonne Castle

Carcassonne Castle (Cité de Carcassonne) is a medieval castle located on the right bank of the Aude River in the city of Carcassonne, Aude, Occitanie, France. It is the historic district of the city and the symbol of the local rugby team. It has a famous double wall (3 km long) and 52 towers. Image 15 is from the Internet because the drone was not allowed to enter the area for shooting! Image 14 was taken by a drone. Carcassonne Castle was built during the Gallo-Roman period. It has a history of 2,500 years and has been occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Saracens, and Crusaders. Originally, it was a Gaul settlement. In the 3rd century, the Romans decided to convert it into a fortified city. The castle was controlled by the Trencavel family in the 11th century and was expanded on a large scale. In the early 13th century, during the Albigensian Crusade, Carcassonne Castle was an important stronghold for the Cathars to resist the Crusaders. In 1247, Carcassonne was incorporated into France and became a powerful border fortress between France and the Kingdom of Aragon. In 1659, after the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Roussillon became part of France, and the city lost its military significance. The fortifications were abandoned and the city became one of France's economic centers, focusing on the wool industry. In 1849, the French government decided to demolish the fortifications, but this was met with strong protests from the public. Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille and Prosper Mérimée, a famous archaeologist and historian, led a campaign to protect the castle as a historical monument. In 1853, the government revised its decision and began restoration work. The architect Viollet-le-Duc was responsible for the restoration of the castle. Viollet-le-Duc's work was criticized throughout his life for being unsuitable for the local climate and traditions. After his death in 1879, the restoration work was continued by his student Paul Boeswillwald and the architect Nodet, and the city was restored at the end of the 19th century. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997.