France : Carcassonne

Carcassonne. The city hides deep layers of French history; it has been occupied since the Neolithic period. It is best known for its magnificent medieval fortress the Cité de Carcassonne, restored by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853.

The citadel within the town of Carcassonne in France has the largest intact wall of any town in Europe. It is protected by a double wall, the inner circuit dating to the Visigoths in the seventh century, the outer added after 1226, when Carcassonne passed to the French crown. By the 19th century, the walls of Carcassonne were so derelict that the government ordered their demolition. Following public outcry, however, it was decided to restore the fortifications. The task was given to the architect and antiquarian Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1853. His creative reconstruction, however, was strongly criticised by some as being unsuitable for the climate and not in keeping with the architecture of the region