- Driving and parking are easiest in the new town, so park up there and cross the river to climb the hill to the Cité.
- The A61 motorway from Carcassonne to Toulouse is a toll road, but if you want to save money you can take the slower D roads instead.
- Place Carnot, the ville basse's central square, hosts regular markets – the busiest times are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, so avoid driving in the area then.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Carcassonne
Rising like a fairytale castle above the River Aude, Carcassonne is one of France’s most dramatic cities. It’s actually two settlements – one old, one newer – though it’s the La Cité fortified town that is the big draw. Having a hire car while you’re there will allow you to complement days in the city with ventures further afield in the beautiful surrounding region.
Fast facts about hiring a car from Carcassonne Airport
One of the best places to pick up a cheap hire car is Carcassonne Airport (CCF), just 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from Carcassonne’s centre. Car rental is offered here by many of the major international car hire companies, including Europcar and Hertz, as well as local companies.
The car rental desks at Carcassonne Airport are located a short walk from the terminal building, and are well signposted.
Car rental companies that have desks at Carcassonne Airport in 2020 include:
- Citer (Tel: +33 04 6871 6997)
- Europcar (Tel: +33 04 6872 2369)
- Hertz (Tel: +33 04 6871 0055)
- Rent-a-car (Tel: +33 04 6871 6997)
Hiring a car in Carcassonne city centre
If you don't need to collect a car at the airport, car rental is available with Avis from its office opposite the train station.
Driving in central Carcassonne is straightforward, with the roads largely arranged in a grid pattern. Most of the roads are one way, but they are quite easy to navigate around.
The new town is encircled by the D119, the N113 and Boulevard Marcou. The N113 then runs southeast across the River Aude, with a number of smaller roads running of it up to the historic Cité with its imposing fortress. Note that cars are banned from the streets of the Cité from 10am to 6pm daily.
As Carcassonne is relatively small, traffic doesn’t tend to be too heavy except in rush hour periods. In the summer, however, the streets to and from the Cité can get very busy, especially with coaches, and drivers can be quite impatient as a result.
There are three car parks close to the medieval city, all of which require a steep walk up the hill to reach the fortress. There are a number of underground car parks in the ville basse, and you can often find free, on-street parking on Quai Bellevue (across the river from the Cité).
Recommended day trips from Carcassonne
Châteaux de Lastours
Driving time: 25 minutes
Not one but four Cathar castles sit on a sharp ridge here, which were abandoned after the French Revolution. What remains today are little more than ruins, but the castles are a pleasure to explore on foot and hugely atmospheric.
Narbonne
Driving time: 50 minutes
Don’t be fooled by this laid-back southern town – this was once a thriving, major Roman city, and the capital of their first colony in Gaul. There are a few ancient sights to discover here, including underground storage rooms, but it’s the imposing gothic cathedral that really dominates the town.
Toulouse
Driving time: One hour 15 minutes
The Pink City, as Toulouse is known, is a vibrant place in the south west of France, thanks in no small part to its student population. Spend a day exploring its narrow streets and sampling some of the fabulous local dishes – including those famous garlic-laced sausages.