A visit to the past

This week, we traveled back in time to the city of Carcassonne, which is the largest fortified city in Europe.  Located approximately 1.5 hours from Toulouse, the city is located in the plain of Aude.  Dating back to medieval times, the city had strategic importance due to its location between trade routes.   The citadel dates back to Gallo-Roman times and was later restored in the 19th century.  It was eventually named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.   During our time in Toulouse, we have learned about the importance of fabric making and dye in this region of France.  In fact, many early inhabitants of Carcassonne became wealthy due to this industry.  

During our guided tour, we learned that there is both a palace and a château within the walls of Carcassonne.  (I, myself, did not know that there is a difference between the two, but we learned that a château is fortified whereas a palace is not).  We were impressed with the guides' knowledge about the buildings and history of the site.  After the guided tour, students had some free time to explore the village instead the walls and to eat lunch.  After, they were able to visit the château and walk the ramparts, which provided stunning views of the towns and mountains surrounding Carcassonne.   Students were amazed by the age of the buildings, the architecture and the beauty of the area.