7 Reasons Why You Should Visit La Bastide of Carcassonne

Most people will visit Carcassonne for its magnificent medieval citadel. But there is more!

Most people will visit Carcassonne for its magnificent medieval citadel. But there is more! On a beautiful day, I decided to cross the Pont Vieux. This is how I discovered the Saint-Louis Bastide, situated on the left bank of the Aude River. It's also known as the 'Ville Basse' or the lower city, being approximately 150 meters below La Cité. And like Carcassonne's citadel, the bastide is a medieval town built in 1247 under the reign of Louis IX. Here are seven reasons why you should go and see La Bastide of Carcassonne:

1. Pont Vieux

Of course, you can start your visit in the bastide itself. However, you can also prolong your Carcassonne exploration leaving from the citadel. Via the Porte d'Aude, you will easily find your way to the Pont Vieux, which makes a grand entree to the lower city. This is what I did, and thanks to the signs everywhere, I didn't get lost for a change... The Old Bridge got constructed in the 14th century and was the only connection between the Saint-Louis Bastide and the citadel until the 19th century. Nowadays, the bridge is pedestrian-only, so I paraded my way into the second medieval town of Carcassonne.