The City of Carcassonne east above all known like a strengthened medieval city; but this rocky outcrop is occupied by the man since VIème century before JC, in the shape initially of a Gallic habitat, then of a Roman city equipped with ramparts as of III - IVème century of our era.

On the western face of this primitive fortification support the castle built in XIIème century by the Trencavel Viscounts takes. At the beginning of XIIIème century, Carcassonne is taken by Simon de Montfort at the time of the Albigensian crusade, then annexed to the royal field. Work of fortification continues throughout XIIIème century with the construction of the enclosure external and modernization of the interior rampart, making this place an impregnable fortress.

It loses its strategic importance after the signature of the treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. In second the the XIX century half, it is the subject of an immense building site of restoration under the control of Eugene Viollet-the-Duke and from now on is registered by UNESCO on the list of the inheritance of Humanity.