Around this time in 2017, we were in Carcassone, France

@JudyEv (325809)

Rockingham, Australia

July 5, 2020 12:59am CST

Around this time in 2017, we were travelling in a motor-home through southern France. While we were in the area, we visited the walled city of Carcassone. While with our son in Ireland we’d played a board game with the same name so were keen to see the medieval ‘old’ city. There were a number of apartments and many small shops within the city. It was hot while we were there and I remember buying a very welcome ice-cream from one of the vendors. The fortified city has its own drawbridge and keep. There are 53 towers and barbicans. The latter are fortified outposts or gateways. It seems most of the efforts of authorities at that time were focussed on defence and fortification of their places of residence. Centuries later, Carcassone draws many, many tourists to wander the narrow lanes, spend a little time in the church and perhaps take a horse-drawn lorry ride round the perimeter. I guess the streets are much emptier now.

20 people like this

21 responses

@DianneN (246838)

• United States

5 Jul 20

I remember your trip very well. Around this time last year we were free to go out and about with our friends.

3 people like this

show previous comments

@ptrikha_2 (45488)

• India

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv It would be a long time before you are able to visit France or Ireland.

2 people like this

@DianneN (246838)

• United States

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv Exactly!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

Yes, it's all changed now. We were lucky to have done it when we did.

3 people like this

Show more comments

@thelme55 (76476)

• Germany

5 Jul 20

What an interesting place to visit. I think I have seen this place on tv.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

The place was packed when we were there but it's probably much quieter now. I hope the people are managing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 20

@thelme55 I'm sure it would be. The main industry there is tourism. They would be finding life difficult I think.

1 person likes this

@thelme55 (76476)

• Germany

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv Maybe that place is quieter now than before the covid19.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Alexandoy (65308)

• Cainta, Philippines

5 Jul 20

It is interesting to know that you have used a motor home. My father said that it is great for a vacation if we can rent a motor home because we do not need the hotel anymore.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

We couldn't afford hotels/motels and we intended to stay a long time. It was expensive to hire a vehicle and in the end, we bought a second-hand one (in 2015) and intended to sell it when we left. We enjoyed it so much, we left it with our son and returned in 2017 and spend more time in it.

2 people like this

@Alexandoy (65308)

• Cainta, Philippines

5 Jul 20

@JudyEv that is a nice trick to save money - buying a motor home for accommodation.

2 people like this

@fluffy69 (4956)

•

6 Jul 20

Nice view very peaceful i wish i can visit france someday

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

There is a lot to see there. I'm sure almost anyone would enjoy it.

1 person likes this

@Janet357 (75656)

•

6 Jul 20

well nothing is impossible with airplanes hahahha

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54411)

• United States

5 Jul 20

i think it was also one of the strongholds of the Knights Templar, but I don't know for sure.

2 people like this

show previous comments

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

@DocAndersen I thought that might have been the case. I should really research it some more.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

I couldn't find any reference to the Knights Templar but the Cathars are mentioned and Languedocs. I don't know if there is any connection.

2 people like this

@DocAndersen (54411)

• United States

5 Jul 20

@JudyEv the connection is the Languedocs!

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Butterfingers (66585)

• India

5 Jul 20

France is a great place for vacation

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

That is so true. We spent a few wonderful months there.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (458192)

• Switzerland

5 Jul 20

We have passed by on our way from Narbonne to Toulouse, but we did not stop to visit Carcassonne, I am sure it is an interesting city to visit.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (458192)

• Switzerland

5 Jul 20

@JudyEv It is lovely, we had those narrow streets and tiny doorways in Monte Carlo, the old streets of "Monaco Ville", near the Palace of the Prince.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

I loved the narrow streets and tiny doorways. I would love to live there for a while but I guess the novelty might wear off after a while.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

@LadyDuck In some small towns we drove up some very narrow streets too. The motor-home only just fitted.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@moffittjc (118448)

• Gainesville, Florida

5 Jul 20

Looks like it would be a very interesting place to visit. So, in the long history of the town, was it ever successfully overrun by any outside attacking forces? Seems like they had quite a defense system in place.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@moffittjc (118448)

• Gainesville, Florida

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv I'm just glad most of those historical structures survived countless shelling and bombing during both of the World Wars!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

In 1209, someone took it over but after that, I think it remained impregnable. I can't find the reference now but it was the first fortress to use some system where temporary 'walls' could be added outside the main walls to shield archers when firing their arrows.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 20

@moffittjc In Amiens in France, they sand-bagged much of the cathedral and put a water-pump affair in the bell-tower so they'd be able to fight any fires caused by bombs. The pump is still there.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@JESSY3236 (18923)

• United States

6 Jul 20

Sounds pretty cool.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 20

I thought it was pretty cool too.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129482)

• Israel

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv Sounds like it was something you will always remember visiting and I am sure especially now since one cannot do much traveling right now.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

True. Who knows when we might be able to travel again in that way.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

@Hannihar We would like to get back to Ireland at least one more time.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129482)

• Israel

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv I am glad in the meantime you have memories. I hope when all is over you will be able to travel again.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@LindaOHio (156276)

• United States

5 Jul 20

How interesting. Medieval times are one of my favorites in history!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

They had some very ingenious weapons on those times. We visited a da Vince museum in France and he had designed some incredible weapons including a very primitive tank. This is one of the more bizarre ones.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (156276)

• United States

8 Jul 20

@JudyEv How cool. Da Vinci was ahead of his time.

@FayeHazel (40248)

• United States

5 Jul 20

Wow, that is beautiful. It sounds like a charming vacation. I hope we soon return to being able to travel

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

Sometimes you don't realise how much you miss things till you can't do them any more.

1 person likes this

@FayeHazel (40248)

• United States

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv So true on that

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

5 Jul 20

This looks very medieval. Love the photo and the memories you shared.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

It's interesting to think there were huge battles in and around this city. It's all so peaceful now

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv History can be very interesting and give us all a different persecutive on today's world.

1 person likes this

@Adie04 (17360)

•

5 Jul 20

Our country haven't open to international travel. I wish I could travel here.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

We wouldn't go overseas at the moment and probably not for a very long time.

@Adie04 (17360)

•

6 Jul 20

@JudyEv I know right. Well, maybe after all things recover, hopefully have chance to travel again.

1 person likes this

ElusiveButterfly

@ElusiveButterfly (45939)

• United States

5 Jul 20

What a beautiful place to venture to! Doubtful I would ever make such a journey. Love looking at the travels that other have made though.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

I don't how many great things we came across by chance although this wasn't really one of them. We hadn't really planned to go there but found ourselves within easy travelling distance so off we went.

1 person likes this

@ptrikha_2 (45488)

• India

5 Jul 20

I recall that you used to post about your trips in Europe in the previous years. I think you traveled quite a lot then. Nice memories. For me, the part from July to November 2017 was busy in terms of Office work and kids but we also had many memorable Mall visits and well we did use to enjoy them.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

It can be very entertaining walking through a big mall. And yes, we did spend a few months over there.

1 person likes this

@Aquitaine24 (11653)

• San Jose, California

5 Jul 20

That looks like fun.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

We had a lot of good times on that trip. Thanks

@wolfgirl569 (95188)

• Marion, Ohio

5 Jul 20

I would guess they are too. Very interesting place

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 20

I was really surprised, but probably shouldn't have been, that the whole region was really, really hot at the tme.

1 person likes this

@almostoveryou (4196)

• Philippines

6 Jul 20

Would you consider traveling at this time? I believe Australia is not banned in EU countries. I'm just not sure if leisure travel is allowed.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

No, we'll be staying in West Australia for quite some times probably. No way I'd want to travel overseas at the moment.

1 person likes this

didik wijanarko

@Babale (1869)

• Semarang, Indonesia

6 Jul 20

A very large and spacious castle. What's it like in it?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 20

Between the two walls it's like a big wide street. In further, the streets are narrow with lots of souvenir shops. There is also a nice church.

1 person likes this