Things to See in the Languedoc:   Historic Cities:   Carcassonne  (  Carcassona):   The Medieval Period

Carcassonne and the area around it, the Razes, now became part of the County of Barcelona.  In 1082, Bernard Aton Trencavel, Viscount of Albi, Nimes and Béziers was proclaimed Viscount of Carcassonne. 

For over a century, between 1082 and 1209 the city of Carcassonne enjoyed tremendous influence under the Trencavels , a family closely related to the family of St-Gilles, Counts of Toulouse. The Trancevals were Counts of Albi, Carcassonne, the Razés, Béziers and Nîmes, but they ceded their possessions for political reasons to the King of Aragon and recieved them back as Viscounts. At this time Carcassonne saw great prosperity: Taxes from merchants sometimes reaching half the value of the products.   Two boroughs grew up outside the city called Saint-Michael and Saint Vincent.

The city was then divided into 16 châtellenies.  This was a common feudal practice by which the city was divided up between senior vassals, each of whom was responsible for part of the defences - typically a stretch of wall and one or two towers.  Important construction works were undertaken on several points including the "Count's Castle".   One can easily recognise parts of the masonry dating back to this period.  Their characteristics are a rough construct ion with a facing of yellowish sandstone (generally 0.15 to 0.25 m in height and 0.20 to 0.30 m wide.)  The Visigothic towers, partly ruined through undermining during the various battles over the centuries, were consolidated and raised in height.  This consolidation work was undertaken before the crusader wars against the Cathars which started in 1209.  Some key events during the Middle Ages:

• 1096: Pope Urbain II blessed the materials to be used to build the Church of Saint-Nazaire.
• 1130: Construction of the Chateau Comtal, and the restoration of the Gallo-Roman walls.
• 1209 (August 1-15thst): Raimon Roger Trencavel is besieged during the Crusader wars against the Cathars.
• 1240: Raimon Trencavel attempted unsuccessfully to win back the city of Carcassonne.  The inhabitants of the Saint-Vincent were punished for their support.  They were burnt and the old borough destroyed.