loisco

We are planning to go there but I am hearing from people who didn't like it at all..just curious as to what people on here think...would I change my Plans?...maybe.

wren

Lois, we were there last summer and loved it. It was wonderful to walk around and I am glad we stopped to see it. It was not so crowded that it was unpleasant... classes of school children with their teachers were there as well as others. It was quite warm while we were there, but we spent the majority of an afternoon there. Then we drove on to our hotel in Albi and had an incredible dinner at Le Quatre Saisons; one of the best meals we had last summer!

cigalechanta

Your plans seem to have too many places in Provence. Are you sure you want to leave and visit Carcassone in Languedoc?
If yes, do go it is an amazing sight, too perfect looking to be real from the distance. It overlooks the Aude River. Alot of it is reconstructed. It's main street is packed with tourist shops. If you have time it is a worthwhile site.

ira

If you get a large enough sample, you will always find some people who hated (whatever) and an equal number who thought it the most wonderful thng they ever...

I suggest that you stick to your itinerary and decide for yourself.

Pesto

We went there a couple of years ago in early October and really enjoyed it. Beautiful vistas, great wine, fantastic food, what else is there?

StuDudley

As you drive from Albi to Provence on the freeway and pass by and see Carcassone from the freeway, with NO plans for a stop - your husband will jam on breaks, tell you that you made a big mistake, and he will head into Carcassone for a visit & instruct you to call your first hotel and cancel tonight's stay there.

I thoroughly enjoyed it last June, and I had a pre-conceived notion that I would not. It can be a little touristy, but just ignore that and concentrate on the history and architecture.

Stu Dudley

billy_boy

Quite a sight for what it is - a self contained medieval castle.

Too touristy.

We've seen it, and we have no plans on going back.

Leely

Well, I was there this past January--hardly any tourists at all! Just me and a few poodles roaming the Cite while I was there.

I think I would enjoy it regardless. It's beautiful, the people are nice and the food's great (mmm, cassoulet).

Go with an open mind. Have fun!

cigalechanta

There is a grassy area between the walls if you will be there in summer. You can picnic there.

elle

I loved Carcassone from the Autoroute, but was less thrilled with it once I was inside. I think that I have a higher-than-average tolerance for touristy schlock, but the streets of Carcassone proved me wrong. I felt they obscured, rather than promoted, the history of the place.

It probably didn't help that we had just been to Aigues Mortes a few days before and that I noticed that some of the shops were identical--apparently many of them are chains.

My favorite part of Carcassone was walking around the outside walls.

StCirq

Whether or not you "like" Carcassonne, it's pretty difficult not to appreciate it. It's the largest walled medieval city in France, perhaps in all of Europe. The reason there are so many tourists there is because it's so damned impressive - and there's so much to learn from it about the Middle Ages. Do a bit of reading about it and I hope you'll be impressed.

cigalechanta

The same goes for MSM.