"Stepping into Medieval Carcassonne's 13th-century world of towers, turrets, and cobblestones feels like entering Europe's ultimate walled fortress city, but it's often stuffed with tourists. At 10:00 salespeople stand at the doors of their main-street shops, forming a gauntlet of tacky temptations—consider yourself warned. Still, if I visit early, late, or off-season, a quieter Carcassonne becomes an evocative playground for any medievalist; avoid the midday mobs, spend the night here, and let this fairy-tale town make you a kid on a rampart." - RICKSTEVES