Our Medieval Day

We wandered very far on Monday, a 300 km, 2.5 hour drive to Carcasonne, a World Heritage site and reputedly one of the most well-preserved 12th century medieval cities in Europe. I had read a book called Labyrinth by Kate Mosse last year which centered on the Cathars and their persecution, so I really wanted to see this historic city which played such a prominent part in the book. It was a long haul on the motorway - with all the tolls totalling about 18 euros each way. We drove past Nimes, Montpellier, Narbonne and almost to Toulouse.

The weather started out very hot in Provence but was overcast and drizzling (and about 5 degrees colder) when we got to Carcasonne. We parked outside the walls and walked around the city for the afternoon. It reminded me a lot of San Gimigniano in Tuscany, with charming, winding streets, little shops and restaurants and the requisite tourists.

We took some photos, had a nice lunch, met some kitties,
climbed some battlements, had some ice cream and rode yet another carousel.















On our way home, we decided at the last minute to take a detour and visit Aigues-Mortes, yet another Medieval city, on the coast. It is famous as being the port from which Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France) departed for the Crusades, never to return. We had a lovely dinner at a cafe on the town square and listened to street musicians and watched local children treat the statue of Saint Louis as their personal play structure.