Carcasonne

Sunday
Today we drove about an hour to the west to the medieval town of Caracasonne, one of the most interesting and impressive medieval towns in France. There are 52 towers and two miles of double, concentric walls encircling the town. The walls were extensively restored under Violet le Duc in a massive programme of rebuilding which began in 1844, which explains their excellent condition today. We visited the Chateau Comtal and the Basilica of St Nazaire then picked one of the many restaurants for lunch, before doing some more wandering round the narrow winding streets of the town, and then walking the perimeter between the two walls, where my blip was taken.
On our way back to Beziers, on the recommendation of our host, we stopped at the fortified medieval village of Minerve, classified as one of the "most beautiful villages of France". It is perched on a naturally defended rocky peninsula high above the gorge carved by the River Cesse. I have included a picture in the extras.