Sunday 5 June 2016

Carcassone - A Wargamers Ramblings

Well guys I returned to the UK on Friday after a weeks holiday in France with the family.  We stayed in a delightful villa about 2 miles from the centre of Carcassonne.  The weather was a bit mixed at times but didn't get in the way of us exploring the area in our hire car and visiting many of the local historic spots.  The fuel shortages affecting some areas didn't bother us at all.

I don't intend to give a potted history of Carcassonne as you can read all about it on Wikipedia (link), but post some of the photos I took.  What I would say is that the walled town and its defences are on a scale I haven't experienced before.  In summary you have two rings of walls (most of the interior one being Roman) and a citadel inside as well.  The walls are massive and very whole place is very impressive.
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Looking to towards the walled town from the river.
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Section of the outer walls.
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Main entrance way through the second wall.  This gatehouse is massive.
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To the left the outer wall, to the right, the inner.
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Inner wall section with Roman turret
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Inner wall section with distinctive Roman turret
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The approach to the citadel.  This used to have a drawbridge in it.
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Gatehouse to the citadel.
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The gatehouse had two portcullises, the mechanisms were in separate rooms to help prevent successful treachery.
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The main gateway at night. Quite a place  :)



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