Cheap flights to Carcassonne

Each weekend, the queues of passengers stepping onto their Carcassonne flights at airports around the UK attest to the popularity of this part of France. Many of them see Carcassonne only briefly as they make their way to their second homes in this beautiful département. But the city is a weekend break destination in itself. The modern city is built around two medieval ones. The fortified city stands on the north bank of the River Aude, commanding the surrounding countryside all turrets, towers and ramparts and with its own basilica, the Basilica of St-Nazaire. This is Europe’s largest medieval town with the city walls intact (completely restored in 1853 by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc), where the old stone streets ring with entertainers, gift shops, restaurants, tapestry galleries and outdoor cafes.

The other medieval city is on the south side of the river, the 13th-century Bastide of Carcassonne with its wide boulevards and elegant Place Carnot with its 18th-century Neptune Fountain.

The Canal du Midi crossed by the Pont Marengo is another great tourist draw. The canal, lined by overhanging trees, was constructed in the 1600s, and is popular for bank-side strolls and boat rides.

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Carcassonne climate

The Languedoc region is blessed with a Mediterranean climate – hot, dry summers, rainy winters and mild springs and autumns. There are about 300 sunny days a year.

Getting around Carcassonne

Carcassonne’s medieval city is small enough that you can easily walk around. But for the rest of the city, you may want to take the bus, which is efficient and reasonably priced. Buy a transport pass for the entire day or just for an hour – it will only cost a few euros, and it gives you unlimited rides over the entire transport system.

What is good to know if travelling to Carcassonne?

• While visiting, snap up jars of cassoulet, bouillabaisse, patés and Roquefort. Cassoulet is the region’s speciality, a rich dish of white beans, mutton and duck or partridge.
• Take a cruise down the Canal du Midi. Boat trips take a couple of hours from Carcassonne canal harbour. Passing through one of the canal’s locks is a highlight.
• The Raymond Chésa Leisure Park is close to the medieval city. It spreads, for 40 hectares, across three valleys, fed by the Mitgé, Bazalac and Montirat creeks. Strolling around Cavayere Lake will reveal a number of environments, from pastures to woods to arid land. An island in the centre of the lake is an important nesting ground for ducks and other birds.
• The Australian Park is home to kangaroos, emus, boomerangs, digeridoos and aborigines. You can also pan for gold…