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

4.5 (48 reviews) 2–3 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

48 reviews

4.5

Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Architecture Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Culture Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 2–3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: In-depth history of Carcassonne's UNESCO defense walls
Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Self-guided (with GPS) audio tour, by Historian James McDonald to be enjoyed at your own pace.
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it on android & IOS apps

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Not included: Live guide not included

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

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

Passing 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.
Porte Narbonnaise

Passing 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.
Stop 4

Passing 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.
Stop 5

Passing 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.
Stop 6

Passing 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.
Stop 7

Passing 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.
Chateau et Remparts de la Cite de Carcassonne

Passing 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.
Chateau et Remparts de la Cite de Carcassonne

Passing 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.
Theatre Jean Deschamps

Passing 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.
Stop 11

Passing 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.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

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

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. VoiceMap has sent you an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

1. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

2. Create an account

3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

4. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

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.