It's the largest fortress in Europe and, according to the guide book, features "a double curtain wall with 14 towers, separated from the inner ramparts (24 towers) by the outer bailey". I have long wanted to see this castle up close and personal, since I saw pictures of it two years ago, but it was not to be this time around. When we arrived, we found a square with many cafes and had ourselves some lunch, which wasn't the best meal we've had since we came to France but did the job. Afterwards, my companions wanted to do some shopping so I set off alone to find the old part of the city. I started with a visit to the tourism office, where I discovered that where I was was a good 20 minute walk away from the castle itself and since we'd planned to meet up in just over an hour's time, I didn't have enough time to make it there and back on foot. I toyed with the idea of driving there but there seemed to be a huge traffic jam going on (which may have been their regular traffic but it seemed rather horrible to me), so I just walked about and enjoyed the architecture.
Carcassone appears to be a city of amazing ironwork. There are beautiful metal balconies on every other building. I also popped in to St. Michael's Cathedral, which has the most amazing gargoyles on the outside.
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I also saw Hugh Laurie as I walked about. Not sure what his picture was doing painted on several walls about town but I found it rather amusing to see House's face staring, or should I say glaring, at me here in France.
Driving back from Carcassone, we stopped again in the book binding village of Montolieu, thinking we would have dinner in the lovely restaurant across from the church where we ate last Saturday evening. But alas, apparently it is not open on Wednesdays. One of the bookstore owners recommended a place called the Apostrophe Bar, which turned out to be situated in a building that is only partially renovated. We sat out on the wonderful verandah and ate tapas and drank champagne (only a taste for me and then back to the Coke Light, since I was driving) and laughed and talked and took photos of the clouds in the sky, a dog that looked (and howled) like a wolf and the beautiful architecture.
Sadly, it was Kate's last day with us, as tomorrow she leaves to go to Paris for a few days.
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