Carcassonne was settled as early as the 6th century BC and later became an important Roman town. It was fortified in the 4th century and was a strategic site in the Middle Ages. It took on its definitive shape in the 13th century with the king’s decision to construct the distinctive double-walled ramparts and extend the castle. The city was restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century and is a testimony to 1,000 years of military architecture and 2,500 years of history. Left in ruins after the the Cathar Crusade (1209-1229), the Inquisition and exile of the Trencavel family, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned by the French state in 1844 to restore the city of Cathar. Completed in 1911 under the direction of his pupil Paul Boeswillwald, the royal city was returned to its original splendor, finally being inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1997. In a new, self-guided addition to this tour, guests are invited to see the magnificent views from the medieval western ramparts. 

If you're staying in Toulouse and want to discover the Cité de Carcassonne, the Comtal Castle, the Saint Nazaire Basilica and more historical highlights, this is the perfect day tour for you. Located 1 hour from Toulouse, Carcassonne is one of the 25 great sites of Midi-Pyrénées. In Cathar country and at the heart of the fortified city, you can discover the Château of the Counts of Carcassonne and the Remparts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will departure from Toulouse at 9:30AM (check-in is at 9:15AM), with a planned arrival in Carcassonne at 10:30AM.  Following your day of discovery, you will depart from Carcassonne at 4:30PM, with a planned return to Toulouse at 5:30PM.

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Provence during this guided full-day tour from Avignon. Enjoy the town of Fontaine de Vaucluse and stop in the lavender fields for photos. Go for a walk in St-Rémy-de-Provence and take in the views from Pont du Gard.  Be picked up from a meeting point in Avignon and board a comfortable and air-conditioned van for the scenic drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Take in the relaxing atmosphere in this town that is next to a spring at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains. Admire the Provençal landscapes in of Luberon and have a chance to have a photo stop in lavender fields in summer (from June 15th to July 31st). Head over to Gordes which is listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France." Walk in the red streets of Roussillon and marvel at panoramic views of the Alpilles in Baux-de-Provence. Take a stroll through the beautiful city of St-Rémy-de-Provence. Stop at the ancient Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard before returning to your meeting point. 

Visit of the charming medieval town of Uzès, founded during the Roman era and the site of an aqueduct that was built to supply the city of Nîmes. The Pont du Gard is the most well-known stretch of the aqueduct left standing. On this 5-hour program, you’ll see the traces of Roman civilization in Uzès as well as substantial monuments from the Middle Ages. Visit the famous 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard, a section of the Roman aqueduct that provided water to Nîmes. The highly photographed bridge was listed by UNESCO in 1985 as a World Heritage Site. You’ll discover the treasures of Nîmes, including the Coliseum that is considered to be second only to the Coliseum in Rome. Its Roman amphitheater is still in use and today has a seating capacity of 10,000.

On this 5-hour tour from Avignon you’ll see some of the most important stone monuments in Provence that date back to the Roman period. First on the itinerary is the Pont du Gard, one of best-preserved aqueducts of the Roman Empire. It was built by the Romans in the 1st century to supply the city of Nimes with water. At your own pace, visit Les Baux de Provence, a picturesque medieval village that sits on a rocky spur in the Alpilles Mountains, surrounded by olive groves that produce a well-known olive oil. Admire the well-preserved Roman monument for a photo stop at the Antiques of St Remy de Provence. See sites at the northern edge of the Alpilles that inspired van Gogh’s paintings, including his iconic Starry Night.

Come along on this tour and learn all about the history of this fascinating city.  Enter through the main entrance, known as Porte Narbonnaise, to the medieval city. Learn about the fortifications built by the Romans. Cross the main street, Rue Cross Mayrevieille to the castle. Discover the museum inside the castle and develop a better understanding of the Trencavel family that defended the Cathars during the Albigensian Crusade.  Walk along the top of the wall, crossing both medieval and Roman towers as you head towards the church. Hear an explanation (in English, French or Italian) about the architecture of the Gothic church and see the beautiful stained glass windows, built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Walk through the streets of the ancient religious quarter and learn about the inquisition in Carcassonne and Toulouse.

Carcassonne is the largest medieval city in Europe with its walls still intact. It’s also one of the most recognisable and most visited tourist destinations in France, having been featured in many well-known movies. Despite all this, most tourists barely scratch the surface when they visit Cité de Carcassonne. On this walking tour around the UNESCO World Heritage site, I’ll point out some of its most interesting architectural features, and bring its history to life. Starting outside the medieval city walls, I’ll show you the Buste de Dame Carcas (a sculpture of Lady Carcas) and tell you the story of how she saved the city from Charlemagne. As you enter the city through Porte Narbonnaise (Narbonne Gate, you’ll begin following the wall, which encircles the old city. Along the way, you’ll also learn about the Cathars who flourished here in the twelfth century, the crusade launched against them, and some of the sieges that took place here. You’ll hear about the many different peoples who have occupied this place, and its military role over more than a millennium. You’ll also: • Find out about the brief Muslim period, in between the Visigoths and the Franks • Hear the tragic story of the Cathars that culminated here • Spot the flying pig in a stone sculpture • Learn why the Papal Inquisition was implemented here long before the Spanish Inquisition existed • Discover the role played by Saint Dominic and his Dominican friars in establishing Inquisition practices to eliminate what they regarded as “heresy” • Take in the impressive and almost century-old Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne, also known as the Château Comtal, where the castle meets the wall and its surrounding defenses • See the Church of Saints Nazaire and Celse, the city’s two patron saints • Gaze upon the monument de la Jean Pierre Cros Mayrevieille, a doctor of law, a historian and an Inspector of Historic Monuments who saved the city from ruin • Locate the various “kill zones” that enemies risked finding themselves trapped in when attempting to siege the city On this two-hour tour, you won’t just trace the walls of Carcassonne, you’ll also venture into its centre through various gates including the Aude, Nazaire, and Toulouse Gates. Join me, James McDonald, an English historian of the medieval period specialising in the Languedoc, as I bring these old stones to life.

Explore some of the historic sites of Provence on a full-day minibus tour from Marseille. Embark on an unforgettable journey back to the Middle Ages at Les Baux de Provence a medieval fortress located on a rocky spur in the Alpills region. Continue to Pont du Gard, one of the largest and best preserved aqueduct of the Roman period. Drive along the docks between the Rhône River and historic city walls, looking at the Saint-Benezet Bridge made famous by the children's song, “Sur le Pont d'Avignon.” See the impressive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace), the site of the Papacy in the 14th century before their return to Rome. Sample the wines of the Rhône River valley in the legendary village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, boasting a castle ruin that overlooks the vineyards of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Visit the cellar of a winery for a complimentary wine-tasting session.

Have breakfast in Spain and lunch in France on this guided day trip from Barcelona. Explore the old town of Girona in Catalunya and the village of Collioure in France. Meet your guide in Barcelona, then set off in an air-conditioned minivan to Girona. Learn about the city's links to the Games of Thrones and the cyclist Lance Armstrong from your guide. While in Girona, take a leisurely stroll through the heart of the old town. Savor a light breakfast of coffee with a local specialty, a xuixo pastry. After breakfast, hop back in the minivan toward France. Cross the border without hassle before arriving in in Collioure, a village on the southern French coast with a population of about 2000 people. Explore the village briefly with your guide, then enjoy free time to have lunch and relax in front of the Mediterranean Sea. Later on, reconvene with your guide and return to Barcelona.

Discover the highlights of Provence on an immersive tour departing from Aix-en-Provence. Explore the medieval village of Les Baux de Provence, the ancient aqueduct of Pont du Gard, and the town of Avignon. Enjoy a guided wine tasting. at Châteauneuf du Pape. Start your adventure with free time in Les Baux de Provence. See the medieval fortress located on a rocky spur in the Alpilles region. Continue to the Pont du Gard and visit the best-preserved aqueduct of the Roman period (museum entrance not included). Move on to Avignon for the chance to purchase lunch. Choose to wander around or visit the Pope's Palace and the famous bridge Saint-Bénezet, also called Pont d'Avignon. Take a scenic drive through the vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape, followed by a delicious wine tasting, before the drive back.