Porte Narbonnaise

This gate is the entrance to the medieval walled city in Carcassonne. Access into the city is free and you can walk the entirety of the wall following a dirt track that leads between the outer and inner ramp parts. This is also the route that the horse drawn carts take. You can also go through this gate to get into the main part of the medieval city. This is where you will find shops, restaurants, cafés, and other stores. You can also access the church from within the gates of the city as well. This is a wonderful place to visit beautifully restored and steeped in history. There are also ticketed areas which are well worth the visit.

The main gate to the Medieval city, (built in the late 1200's), is lovely to walk trough, like something out of a fairytale. It is actually one of two, the other being Porte d’Aude, (quite scenic outlook, however the steeper of the two to get too).

Absolutely stunning, perfectly preserved piece of history. There are many cheap car parks nearby and everything is accessible, save a few steep hills. There horses which drive the carriages from this entry point are well cared for and healthy too!

Carcassonne is one of my favourite places to visit in Europe. We first came here when my firstborn was small and made videos of him chasing around the ramparts with a plastic halberd. Now, with our kids gone, we came back on a walking holiday to relive old memories and stroll the walls, back alleys and fortifications at a more leisurely pace. The Petit Train around the outside of the walls was surprisingly informative and good fun, while we enjoyed setting up some photographs inside the walls, without shops and tourist paraphernalia. A romantic, educational and thought-provoking place to visit. If the car had not been invented, would more towns and cities still look like this?

We visited Carcassonne during the off-season; it was cold and wet, which meant the entire city was basically empty. We saw the same two dozen people all day. It was a fantastic way to experience the city, honestly. This gate is the way most folks enter the medieval city. I love that it's still, technically, a functional drawbridge. Y'know, just in case of Visigoths.

This is the main entrance if you arrive by car, it has all the parking areas this side, don't try and park at the other gate entrance "Porte de l'Aude” very little parking as you are in the main town area and a longer walk to get in.

Worth seeing if only to see the legendary statute of Dame Carcas who the Cité is named after. This is the main entrance to the ancient city and don’t forget to stop and view the incredible statue outside the main entrance. It’s easy to miss.

Beautiful castle