Monuments to visit Aude

Carcassonne is not full of mysterious little gardens, so stumbling upon this one is a happy accident. At first glance, the garden looks rather ghostly because of its religious history, but today it offers an interesting relief for those who want to get lost in the narrow streets. Its founder, Canon Jean Cazaintre, took care to plant sacred botanical species in the 19th century. Today, they keep company with the statues of the ancient and catholic cult, some of which have been partially renovated.

This endowment fund intends to preserve, enhance and animate the City of Carcassonne. Founded by passionate Carcassonnais, this initiative develops projects mixing popularization and innovation, in connection with heritage, art and the center of living medieval history and the language institute. Their 1st action dates from 2017 with contemporary casts of gothic gargoyles. Operating on the basis of patronage, the collective is based in the heart of the Hôtel de la Cité.

The gate of the archbishop's palace, which gives direct access to Palais-Neuf, is at the right of the route of Ancre. We can see the top of the keep of Gilles Aycelin's donjon from the main courtyard. This donjon was built to establish the authority of the archbishops over the Viscounts; whose residence was located just opposite, in order keep watch of the bridge and the neighbouring port. Enter through the reception of the town hall in order to visit the vaulted room called salle du Trésor. You can also visit the hall of the Consuls, which is characterised by a series of pillars supporting the upper floor. It constitutes the remains of the first fortification ramparts built in the Roman Empire to protect the roman people from the barbarian invasions. You reach the first floor by a staircase built in 1628 where you can find the famous room of the superb synod hall, it was the reception hall of the archbishop, where several Languedoc General Assemblies were held. The height of this room was reduced by half to enable the creation of an additional floor. On these walls, you can admire four Aubusson tapestries of the 17th century, which were based on the Stories of Esther.