Photos: Daniel Lepoittevin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lynx1211, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Daniel Lepoittevin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lynx1211, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
La Cité's double ring of ramparts
Your local guide
Camille Rigal
View profile
Highlights
- Towers spaced to remove blind spots
- A narrow strip that trapped attackers
- Two rings of walls, seen together
- A silhouette shaped by restoration
- Europe's largest double-walled city
About this tour
This walk follows the Cité's famous double ramparts, from the closely spaced towers of the outer wall through Les Lices to the taller inner ring beyond. You see how the design removed blind spots for defenders and made the fortress difficult to break even after a first wall fell. It is a route built around defence and geometry rather than a single landmark.
We move at a steady pace around the walls, pausing longest in Les Lices where both rings are visible together. Questions come in throughout and I will hold the camera on any detail someone wants a longer look at. A short note on the nineteenth century restoration follows the call.
This suits anyone with a general interest in medieval fortification, no expert knowledge required. It also works well as a first orientation before a closer look at the Château Comtal.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Carcassonne before heading out.
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The outer wall 17 min
The camera follows the outer ring of ramparts from ground level, towers spaced closely enough that no stretch of wall could be approached unseen. I point out how the towers were shaped specifically to remove blind spots for defenders.
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Les Lices 17 min
Between the two rings, you walk the open ground once used for jousts and tournaments, walls rising on both sides. I explain why this narrow strip made the whole fortress so hard to break into even after an attacker got past the first wall.
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The inner wall from within 17 min
From inside, the camera looks up at the second, taller ring of walls, protecting the Cité's houses and the Château Comtal beyond. I point out the restoration work done in the nineteenth century and how it changed the silhouette visible today.
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Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Carcassonne: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Cassoulet de Carcassonne and La Cité, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Paris time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Carcassonne, showing you The outer wall and Les Lices live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the Cité live with my phone.
Times shown in Paris time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Thu 29 Oct · 10 seats left From 22,00 €
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