Tag: Fortified Cities

I loved Arles, it was such a pretty town and we spent a couple of hours walking around and just enjoying the day. Arles with a population of approximately 51,000 is one of the oldest cities in France. There was an old church in the square called Saint-Trophime Primatial Catholic Church built between the 12 and 15th centuries. I have to be honest, and possibly shock some people, but I much preferred this church to Notre Dame. This church had such character and age to it. Old cobblestones that were uneven, and perhaps a tad dangerous, made up the floor and the smell was old. I know that sounds weird but it is what it is ! Maybe it was all the old wall hangings that carried the smell and they were so beautifully made. I also had to replace a hat and so we went into a store called La Chapellerie Provencale and bought myself a new one. (Photo below) We had a nice lunch at Mezza Luna and then walked over to the old Amphitheater .

Next stop ….. Carcassonne which is a fortified city with a double ring of ramparts and 52 towers. It has a population of approximately 46,000 and a history dating back over 2,500 years. We were on a tour but we didn’t stay with the tour, we were rebels and took off on our own. We found that some tour guides, good as they were, would have us stand in a group from anywhere from20 minutes to an hour or more and just talk. I do find the history fascinating but honestly I do not remember all the dates/names and I would rather walk and see things, we tend to do a lot more on our own anyways. We stopped at a church called Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus and then walked up and down the streets finally stopping for a beer at a cute little outdoor spot called Le Bar à Vins de la Cité. All photos are below

All said and done……..it was a great day. The sun was shining and the history and architecture were amazing.

Next stops are Lourdes and then on to Biarritz…….