Landmarks

Carcassonne Castle & Ramparts Tickets

Aerial view of Carcassonne Castle and Ramparts in France.

Carved stone figures in Carcassonne Castle museum exhibit with informational plaque.

Visitors exploring Carcassonne Castle and Ramparts in France.

Carcassonne Castle ramparts with stone towers and surrounding landscape.

Open today

09:30am - 05:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

4.4/5

(3,056)

Dirk

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Booking worked out. The link to start the activity does not match the reality, the entrance to the castle is about 50 m away around the corner. Our ticket had a fixed time for entering, we showed up 30 minutes earlier, this was no problem. The tour is nice, the castle and the interior is in good shape, the walk around the town on the wall is amazing. All in all a must, if you are around Carcassone.

Lorenz

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Admission was easy with the tickets ordered by appointment. It was probably less busy than normal the day before the free entry on Monument Day. We were able to enjoy the visit. Highly recommended: the audio guide. Great presentation with information and jokes, but informative, instructive and reasonably short.

Cristina

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The experience with headout was very good. The castle website did not sell tickets at the time we wanted and Headout did. But in the castle we could not visit the walls because nowhere did they warn us that at 18:00 they started to close it in pieces and when we had seen only a third of it they did not let us continue.

Enjoy self-guided access to one of France’s most impressive historic attractions, the Carcassonne Castle and its courtyards, ramparts, and the archaeological museum.

Walk along the fortified medieval walls and climb the Bishop’s Tower, spanning both city walls.

Marvel at 15th-century polychrome alabaster statues in the Salle Pierre Embry and take in panoramic views from the ramparts as you learn about Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s restoration work that revived the city to it's medieval grandeur.

Use the multilingual leaflets to gain insights about this famous UNESCO heritage site.

Upgrade: Choose skip-the-crowds option for a more budget-friendly, quieter visit.

Access to the Château of Carcassonne

Access to castle courtyards

Access to the ramparts of Carcassonne

Access to archaeological museum

Leaflet in multiple languages

Skip-the-crowds entry (as per option selected)

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

4.4
3,056 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Spain, Germany, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Monica
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We visited the castle and the ramparts this morning. Beautiful experience. The audio guides transported us to the past with very comprehensive explanations.
Adriano
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The castle is magnificent. Kept very well. It is very nice to see the city from the top of the ramparts. Sitting in the courtyard inside the castle is relaxing. The walk on the walls is spectacular. Being off-season there were not many people so our visit went very well.
Sarah
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
This is the second time I have done this tour and I love it. Such a beautiful area and the audio tour is effortless because it starts automatically as you walk around. Worth the time and money.
Greta
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Running on the wall! 😍 Super view
Christoph
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
A really well-preserved castle and protective wall to the city. A great experience

Explore Carcassonne’s 2,500-year history with access to the castle and ramparts.

Getting started

Begin your visit at the main entrance, where your ticket is validated for entry. Collect your multilingual leaflet and proceed through a brief security check before exploring at your own pace.

What to expect

This self-paced experience lets you explore the castle’s walkways, towers, and galleries. Whether you're stopping for panoramic photos or diving into centuries of historical detail, you have the flexibility to shape your own route. With the provided leaflet, learn key highlights and linger at sections that interest you most.

Features

Fortified Walls & Galleries: Walk along double ramparts and covered galleries, tracing the city’s layered defenses and strategic design.

Bishop’s Tower: Climb the square Bishop’s Tower, uniquely bridging both city walls and offering insight into Carcassonne’s defensive ingenuity.

Archaeological Museum: Explore curated exhibits that reveal the site’s evolving history, from Roman origins to medieval restoration.

Salle Pierre Embry: View 15th-century polychrome alabaster statues, an example of intricate medieval craftsmanship.

Western Ramparts: Enjoy panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside from the western walls.

Restoration by Viollet-le-Duc: Discover the impact of 19th-century architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, whose restoration revived the castle’s original grandeur.

Carcassonne Castle

Monday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Tuesday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Wednesday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Thursday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Friday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Saturday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm
Sunday	09:30am - 05:00pm	last entry 04:15pm

What to bring

Bring a valid passport or photo ID card for entry and age verification.

What’s not allowed

Scooters, bicycles, helmets, non-folding strollers, and large luggage are not permitted inside the Château Comtal or on the ramparts.

Animals are not allowed inside the monument.

Accessibility

The monument is accessible to people with limited mobility in the Barbican and main courtyard only.

Other areas, including the ramparts, are not fully accessible.

Expect to climb a lot of stairs with the Bishop's tower having 230+ steps.

Additional information

The monument is open daily from 10am to 6:15pm, with last access at 5:45pm. It is closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25. The ramparts are closed on July 14 due to fireworks.

Entry is free for visitors under 18 and EU citizens under 26 with valid ID; a timeslot must be pre-booked on the Carcassone website.

Free entrance is available on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November, and December, and during European Heritage Days (3rd weekend of September).

Certain areas may be closed due to weather conditions; check availability before your visit.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

If you have purchased reduced-price or free tickets, please carry your valid photo ID proof for verification.

Ticket redemption point

Redeem your ticket at Château et Remparts de la Cité de Carcassonne.

Address: 1 Rue Viollet le Duc, 11000 Carcassonne, France.

Get directions to the redemption point