Castle of the Counts
about 120 minThe castle inside the walled Cité, with a ramparts walk, a lapidary museum and guided or audio-guided visits.
The castle occupies a rocky outcrop above the River Aude. The tourist office page says the visit takes in the ramparts, hoardings, a projection room and a lapidary museum, with guided tours and audio guides subject to booking. It gives adult tickets at 13 euros in low season and 19 in high season, and opening daily 9:30 am to 5 pm from 1 October to 31 December 2026. Reviews mention the audio guide and the ramparts most.
What to do there- Walk the ramparts and the hoardings
- See the lapidary museum
- Watch the film in the projection room
- Book a guided tour or take an audio guide
La Cité11000 CarcassonneBest: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
La Barbacane
about 110 minThe restaurant of the Hôtel de la Cité, a tasting-menu table with a view of the fortifications; lunch and dinner daily.
La Barbacane is the restaurant of the Hôtel de la Cité (MGallery) in the Cité. The tourist office page names a restaurant with one Michelin star and a panoramic view over the hotel gardens and the fortifications; whether the star is current in 2026 was not checked. The listing shows lunch from 12:30 pm and dinner from 7:30 pm. Reviews mention the sommelier and the tasting menu.
What to do there- Dine on the tasting menu with wine pairing
- Look out over the gardens and the fortifications
La CitéPl. Auguste Pierre Pont, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
La Demeure du Cassoulet
about 80 minA restaurant in the Cité given to cassoulet, classic and revisited, open for lunch and dinner every day but Wednesday.
La Demeure du Cassoulet is listed as a French restaurant on Place du Grand Puits in the Cité. Its own page says it offers cassoulets, from classic to revisited recipes, made with mainly local ingredients. The tourist office lists menus from 18.90 to 42.90 euros. Closed Wednesday. Reviews mention cassoulet, duck confit and live music most.
What to do there- Order a classic or a revisited cassoulet
- Try the pan-fried foie gras
- Listen to live music
La Cité7 Pl. du Grand Puits, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Le Plô
about 80 minA restaurant in the Cité serving cassoulet and crispy duck breast, with a courtyard, open lunch and dinner every day.
Le Plô is listed as a French restaurant on Rue du Plô in the Cité, with hearty traditional fare including cassoulet, with a courtyard. The tourist office names the specialities as cassoulet and crispy duck breast and counts 83 seats and a terrace. Reviews mention cassoulet, magret and the shaded terrace most.
What to do there- Order the cassoulet
- Try the crispy duck breast
- Sit in the leafy courtyard
La Cité23 Rue du Plo, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?
Saint-Nazaire Basilica
about 30 minThe 11th to 14th century church of the Cité, Romanesque and Gothic together, with a rose window and stained glass.
The tourist office page dates the church of the Cité to the 11th to 14th centuries and says it shows Romanesque and Gothic side by side, with stained glass. The listing mentions a Gothic rose window on the facade. Winter hours on the page: closed Monday and Tuesday from 2 November to 18 December; the listing shows it open all week.
What to do there- Look at the stained glass windows
- Compare the Romanesque and Gothic parts of the church
La CitéLa Cité, Pl. Saint-Nazaire, 11000 CarcassonneBest: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Auberge de Dame Carcas
about 70 minA brasserie by the Château in the Cité with a terrace and regional dishes such as cassoulet and duck confit; lunch only on weekdays.
The listing calls it a brasserie with a terrace and a menu of regional dishes like cassoulet and duck confit, on Place du Château in the Cité. The tourist office describes a rustic setting for traditional food. The listing shows lunch from noon to 3:30 pm Monday to Saturday and 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Reviews mention cassoulet most.
What to do there- Order the cassoulet
- Have lunch on the terrace
- Try the foie gras
La Cité3 Pl. du Château, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunchWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Auberge des Lices
about 80 minA restaurant at the foot of the Saint-Nazaire basilica in the Cité with three set menus, open lunch and dinner every day.
The tourist office places it in the heart of the medieval city, at the foot of the Saint-Nazaire church. Its own page lists three menus at 27, 38 and 48 euros, homemade dishes inspired by traditional south-west recipes. The listing shows lunch from noon to 1:30 pm and dinner from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm every day.
What to do there- Choose one of three set menus
La Cité3 Rue Raymond Roger Trencavel, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Le Créneau
about 75 minA restaurant on Place Saint-Jean in the Cité with a panoramic terrace facing the castle, open from 9 am to 2 am.
Le Créneau is listed as a French restaurant on Place Saint-Jean in the Cité, open 9 am to 2 am every day. Its own page describes a panoramic terrace facing the Comtal castle and homemade regional dishes, cassoulet or tapas. Reviews mention cassoulet, the view of the castle and onion soup most.
What to do there- Eat on the panoramic terrace facing the castle
- Order the cassoulet
- Try the onion soup
La Cité6 Pl. Saint-Jean, 11000 CarcassonneBest: lunch, dinner, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Museum of the Inquisition
about 60 minA museum in a 17th-century house in the Cité, with a collection of instruments of torture from the 12th century to the Revolution.
The museum is in a large 17th-century building in the Cité. The tourist office says it presents a large collection of instruments of torture from the 12th century to the French Revolution, with explanations in five languages. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm from 1 September to 31 December 2026; adults pay 12 euros. The listing summary calls it small and simple.
What to do there- See the collection of instruments of torture
- Read the explanations in English, French, Spanish, Italian or German
La Cité7 Rue Saint-Jean, Pl. du Grand Puits 9 rue du, 11000 CarcassonneBest: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
School Museum
about 45 minA museum in the Cité of a French classroom from 1880 to the 1960s, where visitors write with a nib pen.
The museum, in the Cité, recreates the school of the Third and Fourth Republics in five rooms, from 1880 to the 1960s, according to the tourist office. Visitors can write with a nib pen. Open daily from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 6 pm. Reviews mention writing with a quill, children and activities for them most.
What to do there- Write with a nib pen
- See the old school projectors
La Cité3 Rue du Plo, 11000 CarcassonneBest: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.