a charming town (Carcassonne)

Member Name: pontecaille

Product:	Carcassonne
Date:	17/10/01 (139 review reads)
Rating:

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I put this opinion in the Carcassone category because this city is pretty much next door.
I discovered this place through swimming championships and it is one of my favourite stop off. The sport complex is brilliant. The good thing about the swimming pool is that the borders are flat. I mean they have no walls. So when you compete the water won ‘ t come to your face because it doesn’t ’ t hit the walls. And it doesn’t knock you back so no slowing down. I realised my best times in this pool.
Let’s get back to the subject.

I decided to write an opinion on this place because it really deserves it. Most of the time you will find out that the major destinations for foreigners coming to the Hexagon are Paris, St-Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Brittany and of course The Alps. Nothing wrong with them but we forget too often the beauty of the south west coast.
This part of the country is the Languedoc Roussillon region. And Catselnaudary is one of the many attractive towns. It is a charming and is situated between Carcassonne (famous for its castle and landscapes) and Perpignan (Salvator Dali left a personal touch and the station is one the world wonders) down the south and Toulouse if you go up north a bit.
If you like history, cultural places and traditional foods Castelnaudary is definitely your next vacancy.

Catselnaudary becomes little by little the place to visit thanks to its natural wealth, dynamic sites, sports and cultural events. Originally it was born as “Castellum novum arrii” (its latin name) during the Roman Empire and was the head quarters of the Cathar era.
Today it plays a very important role in the food industry and high technology. It became more prosperous thanks to the high production of pastels, not the pencils but a flower called “Isatis”. Many famous people lived there and considered this place as a source of inspiration.
On the kitchen side, the traditiona
l dish is “Cassoulet” and the main ingredients are:

-Beans, garlic, pepper, salt
-Pork, sausages, lard

It is pretty simple to make but it takes time, as it needs to simmer for a while. If you watch your diet, it is not the best to have but it contains lots of essential vitamins and fats…and is surely tasty. Of course the best way to get the idea is to order one in a restaurant.
It is a popular and familial meal and the name comes from the pan it is cooked in: “Cassole”.


Places to go:

The Presidial (XII th century):

Castle ruins used as a tribunal up to the French revolution and then as a prison for minor crimes.
XIIIth: became a cast rum (burgh)
XVth: Catherine de Medicis allowed the city to acquire a noble title and became the county town.
It is today a historical museum.

St-Michel church (XIIIth):

It took about 30 years to build this monument. It has been transformed several times through the time and offers different styles. The interior is mostly made of marble and beautiful paintings can be seen. There are historical organs from the 18th and restored lately.

Windmill of Cugarel:

Last witness of the past: it has been saved from the ruins in 1962 to be restored. His owners abandoned the place because of the industrial revolution in 1921. It is a marvellous monument to visit and it will remember you

The Chemist:

It is an odd place as it contains medicinal remedies made up from dragon blood; worms, dogs ‘ excrements…and they are all kept in jars of Porcelain and earthenware 18th and 19th. It is very interesting to walk along this clinical place and make you wonder of the bizarre things

Notre Dame de Pitie ( XIth):

Outside the city’s ramparts it is extraordinary decorated with wooden sculptures but also wrought iron. These are classified as historical.

>The telegraph of Chappe (XIXth):

It stopped to send signals in 1859 because of the new technology electricity. It was an ingenious innovation and advanced technology comparing to the traditional mail.

Not only monuments are found in Castelnaudary but hotels of a magnificent beauty too. They are about 6 or 7 from the XVII to the XVIII to visit and are very well conserved.

You can also admire the view on the “Canal du Midi” built between 1666 and 1681 and is classified as inheritance in the UNESCO association. It is a peaceful and relaxing promenade to do and you can enjoy the sight of the locks St Roch or the artificial island Cybele used as breakwater.
Castelnaudary is also the place of theatre, festival of humoristic drawings and press comics, traditional games like “Boules” similar to Twirling.

The more you will wander around the more you will be amazed by the richness Castelnaudary has to offer. The city centre is full of craft shops and you will find cheap tokens to bring back to family. Restaurants have various menus at affordable prices but you can have a take away as well. It is quite easy to find a hotel room but book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Do not plan your holidays as you always come across new things or new places to visit. The best is to rent a car but prices are slightly higher than in the UK.
Even if you have a low budget you still can enjoy wonderful walks or sightseeing.

Now I can only hope you will enjoy.

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