Carcassonne is a city in southeastern France. It’s one of the larger cities for landmass at twenty-five square miles as it incorporates some spectacular building preservation for the fortified city.

A Border City

Carcassonne’s history as a geographical location where people settled and lived stretches back to about 3,500 BCE. Much of the history revolves around border disputes.

Strategic Location

• The city’s location made it strategic because both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are easily accessible.
• The strategic location was made even greater by a hill that the Romans occupied in 100 BCE. At this point, the area had the name Carsac, which in turn became Carcassonne.

Occupation and Expulsion

• Carcassonne was once owned and run by the Visigoths who had taken the areas from the Romans. However, a crusading army liberated the city and made everyone leave with just their clothes.
• France took control of the region for its kingdom in 1247.

Modern Carcassonne

• Tourism is a major part of the city’s income, mainly because of the Fortified City, an ancient part of Carcassonne that has been preserved. The city has a modern infrastructure complete with an airport and a train depot.
• Carcassonne is subtropical, which means the humidity can be oppressive. In the summer it gets very hot.
• Its proximity to water makes the area prone to storms, which can flood parts of the area.
• Carcassonne was the start and finish point of the 2021 Tour de France (TDF) and where Cavendish tied the record for most TDF wins.