As we recently switched to winter time and we’re already tired of the greyness, we’re going to move our loaves to the South. No, we are not talking about Brive-la-Gaillarde, but about the real South, the one at the bottom of the map. There is a small town that meets all the conditions to avoid depression. It’s a perfect city, and it’s Carcassonne.
1. His city is crazy
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Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the must-see places before you go. So yes, its restoration by Viollet-le-Duc has been criticized, but nevertheless we have a city that is still standing, with its 52 towers to stand guard. No, in real 52 it may be a bit much today, who would like to attack Carcassonne?
2. Its basilica is unique
Precisely, as we speak of the city, we are obliged to speak of the Saint-Nazaire church. Even before Viollet-le-Duc came to make bizarre renovations, it already had a particularity: its older parts were built in a Romanesque style in the 12th century, and it was enlarged in a Gothic style two centuries later. And there, no need to go to mass every Sunday to see that it still looks good.
3. They make wine here
Carcassonne has its wine lands, and that’s good news. If a city makes red wine, that means you can always find a bottle on your way, and that necessarily means it’s a perfect city. This reasoning is approved by Gégé, pillar of the counter for 27 years already.
4. The Canal du Midi smashes all other waterways
We may have just invented it, this rivalry between rivers, but it doesn’t matter: the Canal du Midi is one of the elements that make Carcassonne perfect. Already, it was a crazy thing to make this canal in the 17th century, and in addition it looks good. What more do you need?
5. It’s a rugby town
Well ok the Carcassonnais are last of Pro D2 at the time of writing these lines, but the important thing is to participate huh? And then it always gives the opportunity to party and go drinking while watching the matches. This is the true spirit of rugby.
6. We eat cassoulet there
Three cities have always struggled to find out which one invented cassoulet: Toulouse, Castelnaudary and Carcassonne. But we don’t care about quarrels, and anyway each city has its variant of the dish, with different meats. The main thing is there: in Carcassonne, you can fill your stomach with a good cassoulet (and a glass of red wine, we don’t forget.)
7. It’s right next to the sea and the mountain
No more debate between those who prefer the beach and those who are more into hiking. In Carcassonne, you can do the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean in the same day (it’s not very interesting but it’s possible.) Who says better? Perpignan? We don’t know.
8. Bugarach peak is not far
For those who remember, when the end of the world comes, those who find themselves at the Pic de Bugarach will be spared. So we don’t know about you, but we prefer to be around just in case. Afterwards, if you want to die crushed by meteorites or eaten by swarms of locusts, that’s your problem, you won’t come to complain.
9. The castles of Cathar Country smash everything
Due, among other things, to small squabbles with the Spaniards throughout history, the surroundings of Carcassonne are full of imposing castles in the middle of the relief. We would see dragons passing that it would not surprise anyone (except the morons who do not believe in dragons, of course.)
10. It’s neither in the West nor in the East
As we know that it’s always a headache between South West and South East, we decided to choose Carcassonne. Because even if it’s not too far from Toulouse, we don’t take sides. Anyway, what’s the point of taking sides when you’re the best city in France?