Carcassonne

Carcassonne Country: France Links: CS Group Wikipedia Wikitravel

Carcassonne is a city in the South of France. It is in the centre of the AUDE department (Languedoc Roussillon). It is close to the Mediterranean coast (under 1hrs by car), to the skiing slops (1h15) and the large city of Toulouse (1hrs by train or by car). It also benefits of the "international" airport with the Ryanair flights.

Mainly known for its fortified castle called “The Cité”, it also has many attractions all around the area.

There are 30 couchsurfers (on the 7 may 2008) for about 45000 inhabitants.

History of Carcassonne

More informations about the History of Carcassonne on the wikipedia:Carcassonne !

What to visit ?

More informations about the places to visit in Carcassonne on the wikitravel:Carcassonne !

Meetings

Mailing List

Tips

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BAGS?

It is often a problem when you arrive in a town early, and your host can't pick you up immediatly. How can you avoid dragging your lugage around all day? Before, there used to be "consignes" in the train stations. Since the terorist attacs, these consignes have been taken away. In Carcassonne you can:

- leave your bags at some hotels in exchange of about 3 euros,

- be brave, buy a baguette and explain your situation to the "baker" and ask if you can leave your bags at his place. Of course it does not always have to be a baker, try the shoe shop or any other place... It does work!!!

Tourist office The main one is situated "Rue de Verdun" in the bottom part of Carcassonne. you will also find a small office after the main entrance of the Cité and a nother office towards the train station just before the Canal du Midi.

Buying a plane ticket The best travel agency I have found to buy a plane ticket from is "NOUVELLES FRONTIÈRES" :72 rue de Verdun, in the bottom part. They have good prices (often better than on internet), speak english and are very helpfor. The also sell trips with hotels, car rental etc...

Looking to buy a house FPE, is a specialised foreign buyers agency situated 3 rue de Verdun. They are trust worthy and speak english. They will help you all through you research and formalities.

Internet access is possible at the cyber café called ALERTE ROUGE on 73 Rue de Verdun - Carcassonne. There is also a Wifi spot there. A good place to have a coffee or a drink is Place Carnot, the main square where there is the market on Saturday mornings. It is great to sit there and soak up the sun.

Carcassonne is small enough to walk around, but if you wish to visit the area you will need a car. A 15 minute walk is needed to get from the bottom part of Carcassonne (The Bastide St Louis) to the Cité. In summer there is a bus service.

CouchSurfers in Carcassonne

http://www.couchsurfing.com/owen

http://www.couchsurfing.com/coco & dewi

Food in Carcassonne

You are in Carcassonne but have not yet meet up with your host, you are hungry. A nice place to go is "Place Carnot" in the Bastide. you have a few Caffees. GO TO:

- Le Ptit Moka for a drink; coffee, coke, or beer.

- Arpin (next to the Petit Moka, to the right) for a croissant, pain au chocolat or sandwich.

- Le Florian, nice restaurant if you want good quality for a good price. They surve between 12 and 13H30. Afterwards its too late, so Be ontime. ;)

AVOID: La Mie Calin; rip off and unfriendly. The use pre prepared croissant and food. Not good quality and not traditional.

Meeting Organisers

Coffee or a drink

How to get to Carcassonne

By Train

From Paris, the fastest train is from the Gare de Lyon to Montpellier. You change at Montpellier and take another train to Carcassonne. Sometimes, you might have to change again at Narbonne. Of course, the fastest is when you only change at Montpellier, then the trip lasts about 5h06. If you want to save a day, why not take the Night Train from Paris Austerlitz to Carcassonne. The train leaves just after 9pm and arrives in the morning before 6am. From Montpellier, the trip lasts about 1,5 hours. Toulouse is under an hour away, there is a train almost every hour.

By Plane

Carcassonne has an International Airport. 466 305 passengers passed through Carcassonne's airport in 2007. Ryanair is the only company landing in Carcassonne. Do not look for a flight to Paris, it does not exist!!! You can fly to or from the following destinations: - London Stansted - Charleroi - Dublin - Liverpool - East Midland - Shannon (will start again on the 1st of April 2008) - Cork (New flight from 28/05/2008) The prices are really affordable, from about 10 euros onwards.

On your bicycle

Either you are mad, crazy or just full of lots of courage. The best way is to peddle hard and fast. The nicest and safest is to peddle along the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi joins the 2 sea’s; the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It starts in Sète to finish near Bordeaux. If you follow the Canal, you will be protected from the hot summer sun by the trees that are over 100 years old for some of them. You will be able to enjoy the tranquillity and calm along the Canal. The good thing is that the canal is almost flat so easy to peddle long distances.

THE CS TRAVEL GUIDE OF CARCASSONNE

You are planning to come to Carcassonne... Of course the main thing to visit it "The Cité". I do recommend that you visit it during the day, but don't forget to to there one the night has fallen. At that time, most tourists have gone (ok, not in summer) the lights have come on and there is that special night feeling...!!! With a little imagination you will be able to attack the old wall and pretend to be a "night". Have fun, the castle is a great play ground ;)

You also have the new part of town: The Bastide Saint Louis. Pass bu the tourist office situated "Rue de Verdun", they will be able to give you all the details of things to see. THE CANAL DU MIDI passes through Carcassonne. You can go to the lock to watch boats go through or go for a long walk along the Canals banks in the shade of the old trees. To find the Canal, you must go towards the train station. It is just infront of the station. You can also take a boat ride up the canal. I have never done it but it must be nice:).

In Case of Emergency

• The European general emergency phone n° is 112 This number can normally be used even on a mobile phone that has no more credit. So if you need the police, firemen or an emergency doctor, dial the 112.

• Police Station: 17 or 04.68.26.11.00
• Health Urgency:
• Hospital: 04.68.24.24.24 or in emergency 04.68.24.27.73
• Fireman Station: 18
• Embassy:
• Emergency Doctor(SAMU): 115

Media Mentions

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