June 24: Carcassonne

Happy Jean Baptist! I was actually surprised to see no evidence of celebration or even acknowledgement of this fete in Carcassonne. 

Another perfect day here-around 30 Celsius with a lovely breeze. We spent the majority of the morning and early afternoon touring the Chateau in the inner sanctum of Le Cité de Carcassonne. The entire Cité de Carcassonne is so overwhelming and beautiful it is hard to choose a focus for this entry. I have decided to share (thanks to Wikipedia) the legend of why it is called Carcassonne.

The legend takes place in the 8th century, during the wars between Christians and Muslims in the southwest of Europe. At the time, Carcassonne was under Saracen rule and Charlemagne's army was at the gates to reconquer the city for the Franks. A Saracen princess named Carcas ruled the Knights of the City after the death of her husband.

The siege lasted for five years. Early in the sixth year, food and water were running out. Lady Carcas made an inventory of all remaining reserves. The villagers brought her a pig and a sack of wheat. She then had the idea to feed the wheat to the pig and then throw it from the highest tower of the city walls.

Charlemagne lifted the siege, believing that the city had enough food to the point of wasting pigs fed with wheat. Overjoyed by the success of her plan, Lady Carcas decided to sound all the bells in the city. One of Charlemagne's men then exclaimed: "Carcas sonne!" (which means "Carcas sounds"). Hence the name of the city. legend takes place in the 8th century, during the wars between Christians and Muslims in the southwest of Europe. At the time, Carcassonne was under Saracen rule and Charlemagne's army was at the gates to reconquer the city for the Franks. A Saracen princess named Carcas ruled the Knights of the City after the death of her husband.

The siege lasted for five years. Early in the sixth year, food and water were running out. Lady Carcas made an inventory of all remaining reserves. The villagers brought her a pig and a sack of wheat. She then had the idea to feed the wheat to the pig and then throw it from the highest tower of the city walls.

Charlemagne lifted the siege, believing that the city had enough food to the point of wasting pigs fed with wheat. Overjoyed by the success of her plan, Lady Carcas decided to sound all the bells in the city. One of Charlemagne's men then exclaimed: "Carcas sonne!" (which means "Carcas sounds"). Hence the name of the city.

I have included in the many photos below two sculptures of Dame Carcas and judging by these she had a very round face! She could easily have been a Kreuger.

We ate cassoulet and poulet de Carcassonne on the terrace of a restaurant within the walled city. On the way home we stopped at an ancient Abbey to purchase our French Camino passports. The passport is a concrete reminder that we are in France to walk...

Laurel and I are currently in siesta mode while Jim is whipping up a Clafoutis for dinner. I will certainly post a photo of the results.

We ended the day with a gentle 8.5 km walk through Gambetta Sguare and along the Aude River

 

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