Gambetta Square

Situated just steps away from the Museum of Fine Arts, the Gambetta Square is the perfect little spot to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. It was originally laid out in 1861 and it’s been through several name changes. It was first called Place du Charbon (Coal Square), followed by Saint-Cécile Square, and finally Gambetta Square in 1883, after the famous statesman who was a leading figure in the French Third Republic. Tragically, in 1944, the Germans tore down the entire square, for better visibility and surveillance over the area. The waterfall, the bandstand, the fish ponds… They were all gone in the blink of an eye. And to make matters worse, the Germans forced the people of Carcassonne to tear everything down themselves. All that remained were the plane trees lining the paths. Once the war was over, the city wasted no time erasing these dark memories. By 1946, the square had been rebuilt as a French formal garden. It was once again remodeled in 2015 to become the lively square you see today. At the far end, you’ll find the Monument to the Aude Resistance. This large statue, built in 1948 by René Iché, pays tribute to the many resistance fighters of the region during World War II, particularly Jean Bringer, the departmental leader of the Aude Resistance, who was arrested in Carcassonne and executed by the Germans in August 1944. Walk a little further along the path to see it for yourself.