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Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

46 Reviews 4.63 out of 5 stars Based on 46 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 91% of reviewers
91% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Carcassonne, France
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from $14.23 per person

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Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Image 5
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Carcassonne is the largest fortified medieval city in Europe with its double walls still intact — a UNESCO World Heritage Site most visitors only skim between coach stops. On this self-guided audio tour, historian James McDonald leads you through its history: the legend of Dame Carcas, said to have tricked Charlemagne into lifting his siege with a well-timed pig; the Cathar heretics who made their last stand here; and the Papal Inquisition that followed. From Dame Carcas's statue, pass through Narbonne Gate and trace the ramparts past Chateau Comtal and the Church of Saints Nazaire and Celse, spotting the killing zones built to trap besieging soldiers. Roughly three hours (3km), guided by a historian with twenty years' research into this history, go at your own pace with lifetime, offline access.

Highlights:
- The legend of Dame Carcas and Charlemagne's siege
- The Cathars and the Papal Inquisition that followed
- Medieval killing zones built into the walls

What's Included

  • In-depth history of Carcassonne's UNESCO defense walls
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Food and drink
  • Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
See 3 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

11000 Carcassonne
France

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Porte Narbonnaise
11000 Carcassonne, France

The tour ends at the Narbon Gate after walking around the Cite de Carcassonne and following its medieval walls.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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La Cité Médiévale (pass by)

This self-guided audio tour takes place around the medieval city of Carcassonne.
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Buste De Dame Carcas (pass by)

On this tour, you'll see the Buste de Dame Carcas (a sculpture of Lady Carcas) and tell you the story of how she saved the city from Charlemagne.
Read more

Porte Narbonnaise (pass by)

As you enter the city through Porte Narbonnaise (Narbonne Gate, you’ll begin following the wall, which encircles the old city. Along the way, you’ll also learn about the Cathars who flourished here in the twelfth century, the crusade launched against them, and some of the sieges that took place here.
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Château Comtal (pass by)

The Château Comtal is the castle-within-a-castle at Carcassonne's medieval Cité. Built around 1130 by the Trencavel viscounts as a fortified residence, it was reinforced during the 1209 Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars, gaining a moat, barbican and inner wall so its lords could hold out even if the outer ramparts fell. After Carcassonne passed to the French crown in 1226, it became home to the royal seneschal. Left to decay for centuries, it was restored in the 1800s by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Today it's a national monument and museum, entered separately from the free ramparts walk.
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Walls of Carcassonne (pass by)

As you follow the wall around the city, you'll learn about medieval warfare and locate the various “kill zones” that enemies risked finding themselves trapped in when attempting to siege the city.
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Monument Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille (pass by)

You'll gaze upon the monument de la Jean Pierre Cros Mayrevieille, a doctor of law, a historian and an Inspector of Historic Monuments who saved the city from ruin.
Read more

Museum of the Inquisition (pass by)

Carcassonne's Museum of the Inquisition is a modern themed museum, not a surviving Inquisition-era site, housed in a 17th-century building on Rue Saint-Jean inside the walled Cité. It explores the period through instruments of torture and interrogation spanning the 12th century to the French Revolution, alongside displays on the Cathars and the great Cathar castles of the Languedoc. A separate "Punishments" section walks visitors through an accused heretic's path from trial to execution — a curated, family-oriented attraction rather than a preserved historical monument.
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Chateau et Remparts de la Cite de Carcassonne (pass by)

You'll take in the impressive and almost century-old Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne, also known as the Château Comtal, where the castle meets the wall and its surrounding defenses.
Read more

Chateau et Remparts de la Cite de Carcassonne (pass by)

You'll take in the impressive and almost century-old Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne, also known as the Château Comtal, where the castle meets the wall and its surrounding defenses.
Read more

Theatre Jean Deschamps (pass by)

The Théâtre Jean-Deschamps is an open-air amphitheatre inside Carcassonne's medieval Cité, seating around 3,000 people beneath the backdrop of the city's towers and ramparts. It's the main stage of the Festival de Carcassonne, a summer festival hosting French and international music, theatre, dance, opera and classical performances. The venue is named after Jean Deschamps (1920–2007), a French stage and screen actor and director who staged numerous productions here over two decades, including adaptations of Julius Caesar and Othello. Its intimacy — far smaller than a typical arena — is often cited by performing artists as giving their shows an added dimension.
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Basilique Saint Nazaire (pass by)

On this two-hour tour, you won’t just trace the walls of Carcassonne, you’ll also venture into its centre through various gates including the Aude, Nazaire, and Toulouse Gates, and see the Church of Saints Nazaire and Celse, the city’s two patron saints.
Read more
Show 10 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Carcassonne ‘s Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-110804P569

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.63
46 reviews

Average 4.63 out of 5 stars based on 46 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
37
4 stars
5
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
2
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Carcassonne ‘s Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • In-depth history of Carcassonne's UNESCO defense walls.
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start.
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.
  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it on android & IOS apps.
  • Self-guided (with GPS) audio tour, by Historian James McDonald to be enjoyed at your own pace.
The following is NOT included:
  • Smartphone and headphones.
  • Food and drink.
  • Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route.
  • Live guide not included.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 6..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour is as follows:

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Carcassonne ‘s Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • In-depth history of Carcassonne's UNESCO defense walls
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it on android & IOS apps
  • Self-guided (with GPS) audio tour, by Historian James McDonald to be enjoyed at your own pace.
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Food and drink
  • Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
  • Live guide not included

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.

Report Product Issue

Activity name