Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
until 19:00 in July-Aug; Nov-March Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00, La Cité branch also open Sun
9:00-17:00; tel. 04 68 10 24 30). If you're arriving by train, the most convenient TI is the
small kiosk across the canal from the
train station
(unpredictable hours, generally daily
July-Sept 9:15-13:00 & 14:15-18:00, usually closed Oct-June...but you never know).
At any of the TI locations, pick up the map of La Cité, which includes a fine self-
guided tour. Walking tours in English depart from La Cité TI (€10, daily at 10:00 April-
Oct). The TI's €16 City Pass bundles the walking tour with a canal cruise, plus discounts
atCatharsights.Alsoaskaboutfestivals(
www.carcassonne-tourisme.com
)andguidedex-
cursions to sights near Carcassonne (described later, under “Helpful Hints”).
Arrival in Carcassonne
By Train:
The train station (with nearest baggage storage a few blocks away at the re-
commendedHôtelAstoria-€2/day)islocatedintheVilleBasse,a30-minutewalkfromLa
Cité. You have three basic options for reaching La Cité: taxi, various shuttles, or on foot.
Taxis
charge€9fortheshorttriptoLaCitébutcannotenterthecitywalls.Taxiswait
in front of the train station, or you can find the taxi stand one block from the station (after
crossing the canal).
Two cheaper options run to La Cité from the Chénier stop (on Boulevard Omer Sar-
raut, a block from the station):
public bus #4
(€1, hourly, Mon-Sat, none Sun) and the
rubber-tired
train-bus
(€2 one-way, €3 round-trip, hourly 11:00-19:00, July-Aug daily,
June and Sept-mid-Oct Mon-Sat only, does not run off-season). Schedules for both bus #4
and the train-bus are posted in the bus shelter.
An
airport bus
departs from in front of the station and runs about hourly to Carcas-
sonne'sairport(€5);itmaystopatLaCitétoorfromtheairport.Ataxitotheairportcosts
around €13, so do the math if traveling with others.
The 30-minute
walk
through the new city to La Cité ends with a good uphill climb.
Walk straight out of the station, cross the canal, then cross the busy ring road, and keep
straightonRueClemenceauforaboutsevenblocks.AfterPlaceCarnot(frequentmarkets),
turn left on Rue de Verdun, walk three blocks, and turn right on the vast Square Gambetta.
Angle across the square, turn right after Hôtel Ibis, then cross Pont Vieux (great views).
Signs will guide you up Rue Trivalle and Rue Nadaud to La Cité.
By Car:
Follow signs to
Centre-Ville,
then
La Cité.
You'll come to several large
parking lots at the entry to the walled city (first hour free, €5/1-6 hours, then €1/hour after
that)andadrawbridgeattheNarbonneGate,atthewalledcity'sentrance.Ifstayinginside
thewalls,youcanparkforfreeinthecastlemoat(facingtheNarbonneGate,turnleft,then
right after the small cemetery). You must show your reservation or have the attendant call
your hotel. (Verbal assurances won't do.) Allow 15 minutes on foot over uneven surfaces
