Visiting timetableClosed
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Cité de Carcassonne, Carcassonne, Aude, Occitanie, France
Back to history
architecture

Carcassonne Architecture — Reading Gates and Barbicans

Understand the choreography of medieval defense in Carcassonne’s entrances and flanking towers.

1/9/2026
13 min read
Barbican and bridge sequence before a city gate

Every step at the gates has a purpose — to slow, funnel, and expose.

Gate sequence over the moat

Watch for

  • Turnings that break momentum.
  • Murder holes and flanking fire.
  • Barbicans that absorb the first blow.

Tip: Trace an attacker’s path with your eyes — the logic pops out.


Once you see it, the plan becomes obvious.

About the Author

Carcassonne Travel Expert

Carcassonne Travel Expert

I wrote this guide to make your Carcassonne visit smooth, informed, and a little magical — with practical tips and rich stories at every turn.

Tags

Architecture
Gates
Barbicans
Defense

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Loading comments...