Carcassonne day trip from Toulouse (private)

6 hours

Commentary: Audio · en

Toulouse, France

About this activity

Enjoy a small group private Day Trip from Toulouse to Cité de Carcassonne in English. Pick up at your hotel and reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carcassonne fortress. Visit the Castle, participate in a walking tour.

Highlights

Discover the Medieval city of Carcassonne
Catch the Highlights of this Old Walled City
Visit the Impressive Saint Nazaire Basilica
Enjoy Mediterranean Specialties
Local Tour Guide, Expert in Carcassonne

Full description

Meet your English speaking local guide

Meet your English speaking driver who will go over the itinerary and program of the day with you. Then you will board your air conditioned minivan and it will be time to drive off to this morning's destination. The drive from Toulouse to Carcassonne is about an hour. As you drive, admire the Languedoc landscape with its rolling hills, fields of bright yellow sunflowers and of course the Canal du Midi that you will follow until Carcassonne.

Program & Itinerary :

- 10:00 AM : Meet your Guide at your Accommodation in Toulouse

- 11:00 AM : Carcassonne Guided Walking Tour

- 12:15 PM : Free time for personal discovery in Carcassonne

- 04:00 PM : Drop off at your accommodation in Toulouse

From Toulouse depart for a half day tour to the fortified city of Carcassonne one of the most famous Unesco World Heritage Sites of the region. On this half day trip to Carcassonne, we will first come and pick you up at your centrally located accommodation in Toulouse.

A bit of History

The oldest traces of mankind - 6th century B.P - were found on the promontory where the now medieval Cité lies. Around 300 B.P, the Volques Tectosages brought the Iberians of Languedoc to submission.

In 122 B.P, the Romans conquered the Provence and the Languedoc regions of France. They fortified the oppidum which took the name of Carcaso and occupied our region until the middle of the 5th century. The Visigoths then became the masters of Spain and the Languedoc. The Cité remained in their hands from 460 to 725 A.D. In the spring of 725, the Saracens took the Cité.

They were driven away in 759 by Pépin le Bref, king of the Franks. After the death of Charlemagne, the dismembering of the Empire gave birth to the feudal system. It was under the dynasty of the Trencavels, from 1082 to 1209, that the town began to gain tremendous influence.

During this prosperous period, Catharism grew rapidly. Raymond Roger Trencavel, vicomte of Carcassonne (1194-1209) both tolerated and protected the heretics on his own lands. He suffered the first impact of the crusade preached by Pope Innocent III and on August 15th, 1209, after a two-week siege, it was all over. The Cité and the lands of Trencavel were first handed to the military commander of the crusade, Simon de Montfort, then to the King of France in 1224.

As the Cité made its entry into the Royal Estate, its destiny took a new turn. Under the successive reigns of Louis IX, Philippe Le Hardi and Philippe Le Bel, it grew its modern-day shape. A new borough was born on the left bank in 1262: La Bastide Saint-Louis. Set on fire by the Black Prince in 1355, it was immediately rebuilt. While this new town was bustling with activity, the Cité consolidated its role as a royal fortress.

But due to the use of new war techniques (gunpowder, cannon) and above all to the recession of the Franco-Spanish border in 1659 after the Peace of the Pyrénées, it was gradually abandoned. In the 18th century, the Cité was little more than a slum, a poverty-stricken, outlying area in a town made wealthy by the wine trade and the cloth manufacturing industry.

Only through the joint efforts of Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, a historian and a citizen of Carcassonne, of Mérimée and the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc was it saved from demolition. Thousands of people today are able to see and admire the most accomplished fortified town in Europe.

Visit of Carcassonne with your tour guide

Reach the cité de Carcassonne that looks like some fairy-tale medieval city. Bathed in late-afternoon sunshine and highlighted by dark clouds, La Cité, as the old walled city is known, is truly breathtaking. The fortress is the largest remaining fortified city in Europe. Follow your guide as you listen to the local stories and legends and be amazed by its old stones and its history.

Follow the ramparts with your guide, to get a feel of the medieval beauty of the biggest fortified city then stroll through the narrow streets lined with shops. Reach the Cathedral of Carcassonne. The visit of the Saint Nazaire Basilica with its outstanding stained-glass windows that date back to the middle ages is a must. After the visit of the Cité, enjoy some free time for personal discovery. Then, we will drive you back to Toulouse and that will be the end of our services.

Included / Excluded

Pick up and drop off in Toulouse
Visit of the Cité of Carcassonne
English speaking driver or driver/guide
Premium A/C vehicle

Personal insurance and expenses
Gratuities for the guide
Meals and drinks
Entrance fees to monuments or attractions

Meeting point

Start Location

Toulouse, France

Important information

Know before you book

Prices are per group from 2 to 8 persons
Tour is not wheelchair accessible
Tour requires minimum 2 passengers (adults) to operate

Know before you go

English speaking driver or driver/guide
Curency is in Euros
Good walking shoes are recommended
Tour available all year round (except May 1st, Dec 25th and Jan 1st)
6 hour tour to Carcassonne from Toulouse

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the activity starts

Up to 72 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Reviews

4.8(3,583 reviews)

peta_b

Jul 2026

5.0

This was fantastic. Absoutely magical. Highlight of my trip for the christmas Markets. You do not want to miss this

Fredy_R

Jul 2026

4.0

We had a wonderful experience exploring the countryside. Obernai in particular was charming and lively. The town square was magical and felt like a fairytale. The other towns were equally pretty but because it was a Sunday, most shops were closed. I think had we gone any other day more would have been available. That said, our guide Lea was outstanding. She was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The vehicle was a brand new Mercedes van and very comfortable.