July 3, 2017

July 3, 2017

This morning we walked into the walled city of Carcassonne and had breakfast at a little outdoor cafe. Nearby is the Basilica of St Nazarius. Its altar is surrounded by beautiful Gothic stained glass windows with a ribbed vaulted ceiling. The back half of the cathedral remains in its original Romanesque design with arched roof and small thick windows. I guess funds dried up during the late Medieval renovation.

We spent the next several hours touring the fortress' Keep or Lord's Chateau. It was the original castle of the local ruler. It has a small museum of local stonework, including a Roman milepost, several sarcophagi, and Gothic decorations. We then walked the extensive ramparts in both directions. Carcassonne is impressive because of the superb condition of the structure. We hung around to join an English language tour. We are glad we did as the guide was both educational and entertaining.

Because of the city growing up around Carcassonne, I haven’t been able to get a good panoramic photo. I saw one in a postcard, so I was able to infer which direction to head. It took some driving around but we eventually found the right general area. A ten-minute walk through a vineyard took me to the perfect spot.

While out we stopped at a Boulangerie for lunch. These bakeries are the fast food of France. Back at the hotel, we bought a bottle of rose wine and chilled out for the afternoon.