CARCASSONNE

By Claire Burns, Period 6

INTRODUCTION

Carcassonne is a city is southern France that lies

on the Aude River

It is the capital of the Aude department

Carcassonne is historically a fortress guarding the

eastern end of the gap between the Massif Central of

France (to the north) and the Pyrenees (to the south)

HISTORY

Carcassonne was first occupied by the Romans who called it

Carcaso

After being under roman rules, Carcassonne

was under the power of many tribes who

further fortified and developed it

More fortifications were added during the

13th century to keep Edward the Black Prince out of the city

during the Hundred Years War

HISTORY CONTINUED

In the mid-19th century, (after being abandoned for 100 years)

Carcassonne was in bad shape. It was ordered

to be destroyed, but the current mayor and

ancient monuments inspector saved it

Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, a well known architect

of the time, is credited with restoring the town

Today the town has medieval dwellings, a cathedral, a

chateau, and a museum with the history of Carcassonne

TIMELINE

Last 100 years BC – Roman soldiers built the

walled town

600’s, 1100’s, and 1200’s – walls were rebuilt

multiple times

1800 – Carcassonne’s two communities, Cité and

Lower Town, merge

TIMELINE CONTINUED

1804 – removed from the list of military fortresses

1820 – reinstated as a second grade fortress

Late 1800’s – walls were repaired or rebuilt to be

preserved for historical purposes

DESCRIPTION AND FACTS

Carcassonne is over 2,000 years old!

The first settlers in the region,

however, settled in 3500 BC

It was never attacked during

the Hundred Years War

FACTS CONTINUED

After the 1659 Treaty of Pyrenees gave the

town/region to France, it was used more as an

important regional capital and less as a fortress

Carcassone was used as an arsenal and a supply

depot during the Ancien Regime and the Revolution

The fortress consists of two walls, a castle, and 50

towers

INFLUENCE ON FRANCE

Carcassonne is an architectural wonder

The restoration of Carcassonne had a huge

influence on French practices and principles

Today you can visit Carcassonne and walk through

the town and museum

WORKS CITED

Price, Homer. Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 5. 2005. Print.

Kesselman, Mark, Ph.D. "Carcasonne." World Book Student. World

Book, n.d. Web.

     15 May 2013. <http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/

     article?id=ar094860&st=carcassonne>.

"History of Carcassonne." Carcassonne. Mescladis, n.d. Web. 16

May 2013.

     <http://mescladis.free.fr/ANGLAIS/pages%20html/history.htm>.

WORKS CITED CONTINUED

Historic Fortified City of Carcasonne." UNESCO. UNESCO, n.d. Web. 16

May 2013.

     <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/345>.

Gadling. AOL Inc., 1 May 2013. Web. 16 May 2013.

<http://www.gadling.com/2013/

     05/01/postcards-from-carcassonne-exploring-a-medieval-french-village/

     #content>.

"Carcassonne." France This Way Castles. France This Way, n.d. Web. 16

May 2013.

     <http://www.castles.francethisway.com/chateau-carcassonne.php>.