Carcassonne—Medieval City & Everyday Life

Friday was chilly and windy, but we took the walking tour of La Cite and Comtal Chateau (the castle within the Medieval City). Afterward we meandered up and down some streets we haven't yet walked in the Bastide, up to the Big i near the train station to get info about car rentals, and then back to our apartment. Checked out the bastion of the Garden of Calvery that's adjacent to our apartment. Found it's more than part of the old fortification protecting the Bastide. It has little grottos depicting the stations of the cross complete with the crucifixion statues and a resurrection cave. Now we know what's over the back yard wall.

Notre Dame de la Sante Chapel (1527) on the banks of the
Aude River is where the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella
begins. Old Bridge to La Cite is over my right shoulder. Built in
the 1300's to make passage easier to Bastide (New/Lower City). 

Inside Notre Dame de la Sante Chapel.

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire.

Notice Romanesque columns in 

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire (circa

1000-1300) inside the La Cite.

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire.

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire altar.

Comtal Chateau (1100-1300) is the fortification within the walls

of La Cite (Medieval City). We snapped shots inside the chateau

and along it's battlements. It's an impressive structure. 

In the backyard after our Medieval City tour and Bastide 

meanderings. The window with the blue shutters above

Marie's backpack is our living room window. 

Below is a shot from living room window out to the Saturday

flea market. It's YUGE! as Bernie would say.

Did some homework about renting a car and walked up to LOV Car Rental and met Jean Louise. Between his broken English, my limited understanding of French (i.e. going with root words, and context), and his iPad that had Google Translator (the clincher) we managed a transaction. I have a car beginning Monday for four days.

But the cool part of my little excursion was walking back and passing this skate park where some 20-something's put on a little show for me as soon as I pulled out my camera.

Walked to a bookstore to pick up a Michelin map; I'll need it Monday when I pick up the car. We strolled along the Canal du Midi and talked with a Scottish guy whose been on the canal six years. He wintered in Biarritz on the Atlantic and once it warms up, he'll travel north a bit. The solar panels produce all of his electricity and he captures rainwater so he doesn't have to tie up in canal marinas.

Did some meandering through the Bastide trying to get lost. Because of the city's hexagonal design getting lost is impossible unless you cross the boulevards that once were the trenches that protected it in the 16th century.

Just liked the light down

Victor Hugo Street.