Carcasonne

Carcasonne, last stronghold of the Cathars.

Day 3 of the 5 day weekend. You know how it is.

Carcasonne is an hour away via 5 or 10 ghostish towns, all beautiful. It has a huge medieval fort/town/citadel with interesting angles and defensive positions everywhere. Marie says to the boys, imagine putting each stone up one by one. I wouldn't even want try to count them. This place is huge!

The outer wall.

Between the inner and outer walls.

It didn't save the Cathars from mass slaughter during a crusade. There's a torture museum regarding the good old inquisition. God bless the Catholic church uh?


Lunch is the regional specialty which as always is mystery meat, this time with beans and cheese. I think it/s delicious, but Marie not much. She asks if I can not describe lunch while we're eating.

Restored in 1853, it now draws huge crowds.

The narrow sloping down entry, makes it easy for defense, also making it hard to get out as enemy tourists keeping pouring in the breach. We go home for the afternoon. Me and Ollie ride into Beziers to get milk. On the way we discover a kids road education playgournd, and a skate park. Too much fun, but a bit edgy, graffitied to the max. Finally, at 6.30pm, Marie comes in to get Ollie, and we have a race home, the car versus me on the bike. The boys are too excited as they overtake me with about 500m to go. I pass them in the driveway, and touch the front door first. Marie said she'd slowed down a bit - bah!