Lady Carcas

This is Lady Carcas. The legend of the foundation of Carcassonne is that Charlemagne's army had the Saracens holed up in the walled fort. Carcas, a widowed Saracen princess, withstood the siege for five years then finally in desperation filled a pig carcass with wheat and flung it at the besieging army. Charlemagne's men, believing the Saracens had food to waste, broke the siege and withdrew. The Saracens made a lot of noise at their freedom leading one to exclaim "Carcas sonne!" or Carcas sounds!

The legend is now thought fictional but still makes a great story. This image of Carcas is now chiselled into the pillars at the main entrance to the old walled city.