Saint-Louis Bastide

As you might have gathered by now, Carcassonne isn’t just one city, but two! There’s the medieval city, perched atop the hill and bordered by its suburbs, and there’s the lower town, the so-called Saint-Louis bastide, on the other side of the Aude river. The latter was founded in 1247 by Saint-Louis, aka King Louis IX. He had just taken the city from the Trencavels and annexed it to the crown lands. He then appointed a seneschal, his representative, in the count’s palace, and expelled the locals from the medieval city. Thereafter, he proceeded to build the lower town, well away across the river, to accommodate them. The new town was built on a quadrangular plan, with everything centered around a big main square, Carnot Square, and it featured buildings in the traditional southern French architectural style. In the Renaissance, the bastide saw the construction of many private mansions for the wealthy cloth merchants who were now making a fortune there. Fast forward to the 18th century, and the city’s old ramparts gave way to grand boulevards. Over the last few years, the bastide has undergone major restoration work that has breathed new life into its historical sites and charming squares, all while making the most of its convenient location along the Canal du Midi. Today, it’s the bustling heart of Carcassonne, with plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants to choose from. Don’t miss it!