Settlement
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.
Medieval Carcassonne is a fortified town rather than a
castle - and perhaps the most impressive fortified medieval town to be found.
Which is ironic, because in the middle of the 19th century it was in such bad
repair that it became scheduled for demolition, to be saved by the efforts of
the local mayor, who called in the new 'historic monuments' department to take
a look. The city was saved, the well known architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc took
the renovation project in hand, and the rest, as they say, is history. Due to
its position on historical routes across France the location has been occupied
for more than 5,000 years, and was an important centre from 2,500 years ago
onwards. It was first fortified by the Romans, and given the name Carcaso.
Later, as we enter the 13th century, the Albigensian Crusade
under Simon de Montfort attacked and seized this cathar stronghold, and again
more fortifications were added, sufficient to keep Edward the Black Prince out
of Carcassonne during the Hundred Years War.Subsequently the location and town
gained strategic importance from being on the frontier between France and
Spain. This became less important after 1659 when the Treaty of the Pyrenees
passed the town and region definitively to France - hence from the 17th century
onwards the need for a defended city passed and Carcassonne became an important
regional town.Carcassonne reached its low point at the middle of the 19th
century, when a century of abandon had made it perilously dangerous and the
government demanded it be demolished. The buildings within the city were
inhabited but in very poor condition. The efforts of the mayor and the ancient
monuments inspector had this decision overturned and the restoration of the
town began shortly afterwards.
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