Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Laundry:
Try
Laverie Express
(daily 8:00-22:00, 5 Square Gambetta at Hôtel Ibis; from
La Cité, cross Pont Vieux and turn right).
Department Store:
You'll find a
Monoprix
where Rues Clemenceau and de la Répub-
lique cross, a few blocks from the train station.
Tourist Train:
Hop on at the Narbonne Gate for a 20-minute loop around La Cité (€7).
Bike Rental:
Bike riding is very popular thanks to the scenic towpath that follows the
canal (at the train station).
Génération VTT
rents bikes (get the free English map,
daily 9:30-18:00, just below the train station TI kiosk, mobile 06 09 59 30 85,
www.generation-vtt.com
)
.
Evasion 2 Roues
alsorentsbikes,andhastandems(closed
Sun-Mon, 85 Allée d'Iéna, tel. 04 68 11 90 40,
www.evasion2roues.eu
).
Taxi:
Call 04 68 71 50 50 or 04 68 71 36 36.
Car Rental:
Avis is at the train station (tel. 04 68 25 05 84). The airport has all the rental
companies, but it's a lousy place to pick up a car—it's 30 minutes from Carcassonne
and offices tend to be understaffed.
Guided Excursions from Carcassonne:
Capable and fun English expat
Wendy Gedney
runs day-long tours that mix sightseeing with wine-tasting and cultural experiences.
She's thrilled to show you her adopted region (€95-110/person for full-day tours that
usually include two wine-tastings, lunch, and visits to key sights such as the Cathar
castles; tel. 06 42 33 34 09,
www.vinenvacances.com
,
wendy@vinenvacances.com
)
.
Minivan Service:
Friendly
Didier
providescomfortabletransportationforuptoeightpas-
sengers to all area châteaux and sights. He's not a guide, so you can decide the itin-
erary (for 4 passengers plan on about €170/half-day, €300/day, price depends on dis-
tance and number of people, mobile 06 03 18 39 95,
bod.aude11@orange.fr
).
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Carcassonne's Medieval Walls and La Cité
(See “Carcassone's La Cité” map,
here
.)
While the tourists shuffle up the main street, this walk introduces you to the city with his-
tory and wonder, rather than tour groups and plastic swords. We'll sneak into the town on
the other side of the wall...through the back door (see map on the next page). This walk is
wonderfully peaceful and scenic early or late in the day, when the sun is low.
Start on the asphalt outside La Cité's main entrance, the Narbonne Gate (Porte Nar-
bonnaise). You're welcomed by a contemporary-looking bust of Madame Carcas—which
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