Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement
has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present
form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its
massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings,
its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is also of
exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign
undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science
of conservation.