Three hours after our train left Bordeaux we disembarked at la Gare de Carcassonne. We were making a brief stop to check out a medieval city, on a hilltop of course. You can see it below, in the photo taken from our apartment. And guess what, not only was the old city worth a visit, the newer parts of Carcassonne were too. It's an attractive, walk-able, and culinary city.
The apartment was charming. Well appointed, spacious, colourful, and with a great view. It's a 6th floor flat on Rue Frédérick Mistral, a street named for a French poet. It's two blocks to the train and the canal du midi, should you arrive by boat, and a 20-minute walk to the gates of the old city on a hill.
Dinner was a highlight: a seven-course (plus dessert) tapas dinner at Agapé Carcassonne. Reservations recommended, they offer a single seating and a fixed menu. The food was super—amazing gazpacho—and the proprietor provided warm and attentive service that could be habit forming if you lived in the area. A treat.
