Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
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Carcassonne is the largest fortified medieval city in Europe with its double walls still intact — a UNESCO World Heritage Site most visitors only skim between coach stops. On this self-guided audio tour, historian James McDonald leads you through its history: the legend of Dame Carcas, said to have tricked Charlemagne into lifting his siege with a well-timed pig; the Cathar heretics who made their last stand here; and the Papal Inquisition that followed. From Dame Carcas's statue, pass through Narbonne Gate and trace the ramparts past Chateau Comtal and the Church of Saints Nazaire and Celse, spotting the killing zones built to trap besieging soldiers. Roughly three hours (3km), guided by a historian with twenty years' research into this history, go at your own pace with lifetime, offline access. Highlights: - The legend of Dame Carcas and Charlemagne's siege - The Cathars and the Papal Inquisition that followed - Medieval killing zones built into the walls
Your experience
Stop 1
This self-guided audio tour takes place around the medieval city of Carcassonne.
Stop 2
On this tour, you'll see the Buste de Dame Carcas (a sculpture of Lady Carcas) and tell you the story of how she saved the city from Charlemagne.
Stop 3
As you enter the city through Porte Narbonnaise (Narbonne Gate, you’ll begin following the wall, which encircles the old city. Along the way, you’ll also learn about the Cathars who flourished here in the twelfth century, the crusade launched against them, and some of the sieges that took place here.
Stop 4
The Château Comtal is the castle-within-a-castle at Carcassonne's medieval Cité. Built around 1130 by the Trencavel viscounts as a fortified residence, it was reinforced during the 1209 Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars, gaining a moat, barbican and inner wall so its lords could hold out even if the outer ramparts fell. After Carcassonne passed to the French crown in 1226, it became home to the royal seneschal. Left to decay for centuries, it was restored in the 1800s by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Today it's a national monument and museum, entered separately from the free ramparts walk.
Stop 5
As you follow the wall around the city, you'll learn about medieval warfare and locate the various “kill zones” that enemies risked finding themselves trapped in when attempting to siege the city.
Stop 6
You'll gaze upon the monument de la Jean Pierre Cros Mayrevieille, a doctor of law, a historian and an Inspector of Historic Monuments who saved the city from ruin.
Stop 7
Carcassonne's Museum of the Inquisition is a modern themed museum, not a surviving Inquisition-era site, housed in a 17th-century building on Rue Saint-Jean inside the walled Cité. It explores the period through instruments of torture and interrogation spanning the 12th century to the French Revolution, alongside displays on the Cathars and the great Cathar castles of the Languedoc. A separate "Punishments" section walks visitors through an accused heretic's path from trial to execution — a curated, family-oriented attraction rather than a preserved historical monument.
Stop 8
You'll take in the impressive and almost century-old Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne, also known as the Château Comtal, where the castle meets the wall and its surrounding defenses.
Stop 9
You'll take in the impressive and almost century-old Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne, also known as the Château Comtal, where the castle meets the wall and its surrounding defenses.
Stop 10
The Théâtre Jean-Deschamps is an open-air amphitheatre inside Carcassonne's medieval Cité, seating around 3,000 people beneath the backdrop of the city's towers and ramparts. It's the main stage of the Festival de Carcassonne, a summer festival hosting French and international music, theatre, dance, opera and classical performances. The venue is named after Jean Deschamps (1920–2007), a French stage and screen actor and director who staged numerous productions here over two decades, including adaptations of Julius Caesar and Othello. Its intimacy — far smaller than a typical arena — is often cited by performing artists as giving their shows an added dimension.
Stop 11
On this two-hour tour, you won’t just trace the walls of Carcassonne, you’ll also venture into its centre through various gates including the Aude, Nazaire, and Toulouse Gates, and see the Church of Saints Nazaire and Celse, the city’s two patron saints.
What’s included
- In-depth history of Carcassonne's UNESCO defense walls
- Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Self-guided (with GPS) audio tour, by Historian James McDonald to be enjoyed at your own pace.
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it on android & IOS apps
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Food and drink
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
- Live guide not included
Meeting and pickup
Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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