Carcassonne: France’s medieval fortress city

DW (English)

A UNESCO world heritage site and major tourist magnet. The fortress city of Carcassonne looks straight out of a movie – but is it really all medieval?

Transcript

00:01The old town of Carcassonne looks like a medieval movie set, but it's very real.

00:07Or is it? One of Europe's most famous citadels, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

00:13Drawing in over 2.5 million visitors a year, located in southern France,

00:20it's considered one of the best-preserved fortified cities in Europe.

00:24We'll hear five surprising stories about Carcassonne, and join tour guide Hélène Noblesse to set off for this city within a city.

00:34Located within the city walls, the old town looks like a well-preserved time capsule.

00:40But what if we told you that some things here didn't look like this in the Middle Ages?

00:44In the 19th century, the cité, as it's called, was in ruins and in danger of being demolished.

00:51Prominent architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc restored the citadel, but he didn't stay completely true to the original.

00:59You can see what's really typical from the restoration, the slate roofs.

01:04In the 19th century, everything was covered with slate.

01:07And of course, I was really criticised, because it's not a typical material you use to cover the roofs.

01:13The medieval town was listed on the UNESCO World Couturage List as a medieval town, but restored by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

01:21So that means that the restoration is part of the national heritage.

01:26And nowadays, when we restore, we restore like Eugène Viollet-le-Duc would have done.

01:32At the medieval camp, you can experience what life was like in 13th century Carcassonne,

01:40and discover how people lived in their day-to-day lives.

01:44That's your weapon.

01:56So often, people have false preconceptions.

01:58About hygiene, for example.

02:00They think people didn't wash back then, but even peasants washed themselves every day.

02:04Some French kings, like Louis IX and his queen, even held court from their bathtubs.

02:09Can you believe the fortress was rarely used in battle, but rather just for intimidation?

02:15Carcassonne was only captured once, in 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade,

02:21when its defenders ran out of water.

02:24There was a lack of water.

02:26The fact that Raymond Moré de Trincavel feared a massacre for the population,

02:31that he decided to surrender.

02:34That was not because the town was not so well defended.

02:37The strategy of the crusaders was to use a lack of water to try to take the town war quickly.

02:45And unfortunately, it worked very much here during the crusade.

02:52The most famous legend of Carcassonne tells of Dame Carcass,

02:56who outwitted Charlemagne during a five-year siege.

03:00With supplies gone, she fed the last pig wheat and threw it over the wall.

03:05Believing the city still had plenty, the army retreated.

03:10And this lady rings the bells to celebrate her victory.

03:19So the Charlemagne soldiers,

03:21heard the sound of the bells, shouted Carcassonne,

03:25which means Carcass is ringing.

03:28Of course, it was to celebrate her victory.

03:30It's of course a legend.

03:32Charlemagne has never been here.

03:34A five-year siege would be too long.

03:37And above all, this lady never existed.

03:40Speaking of legends,

03:42the Visigoths are set to have hidden treasure here in the 5th century,

03:46looted from Rome.

03:47And many believe it's in this well.

03:49Patrick Robat is one of just under 30 people living in the fortified town.

03:56He's seen the well being drained.

03:58Treasures of a different kind were found.

04:02A few years ago, a Spanish tourist lost a large golden cross

04:08that had fallen into a fountain.

04:11She even paid to have the fountain completely emptied in order to find it.

04:16And what came to light?

04:19Stolen bicycles, shopping carts, all sorts of things like that.

04:27And luckily, they found the golden cross too.

04:30Carcassonne has also been the setting for films

04:33and continues to attract celebrities.

04:35Many check into the historic Hotel de la Cité,

04:38a five-star hotel within the city walls.

04:41Since 1909, we've had many celebrities that came to the Hotel de la Cité.

04:45And the reason for this is that the hotel is located in an ideal situation

04:51between the French Riviera and the Basque country, Yaritz.

04:58For instance, we had Walt Disney in 1958 with Grace Kelly.

05:04Hotel manager Xavier Lablord has displayed memories of famous guests

05:08and the original guest books in the lobby.

05:11Walt Disney is said to have found inspiration here for his movies Snow White and Sleeping Beauty,

05:18perhaps on the hotel terrace with its view of the fairy tale towers.

05:23Carcassonne is full of stories that often have more to do with our perception of history than with reality.

05:30Which fact surprised you the most?

05:33Which fact surprised you the most?

05:37who's the most?

05:38What's the most?

05:39A movie from vacation to black and white?

05:40Which is which is the only one.

05:41For all of our country's homes andivided.

05:42And we don't know who the most?

05:43That's why.

05:44How do we think they break down?

05:45In the past, in the past, in the past, in the past,

05:46we can't wait for a few years.

05:47And the past there are currently at the moment.

05:48And we can see the front there.

05:49And we can see the front and rear without them.

05:50It's still a normal scene.

05:52We can see what a family has been working on.

05:53What can we do?

05:54The best thing on the past, in the past, we can see the mass,

05:56it's even better.

05:57Things that make up a family and see the house

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