Using Toulouse as a home base, we will plan the following schedule:
=> FRI, APRIL 18, 2024: Arrive in Toulouse on your own. Meet in hotel for orientation. Dinner and dancing in town (if available)
=> SAT, APRIL 19, 2024: Day trip to Carcassonne (1 hr from Toulouse)
=> SUN, APRIL 20, 2024: After breakfast, meet rest of group for travel to the Dordogne
----- ABOUT CARCASSONNE ------
Carcassonne has been described as a breathtaking city of stone with a spectacle of a 10th century medieval fortress.
Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. Today, this historic fortified city and UNESCO Heritage Site is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defenses encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. It also has the distinction of being the largest fortified medieval city in all of Europe, with 3km of ramparts and 52 towers and gateways.
FUN FACT: Carcassonne has been used in many films including the famous "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" starring Kevin Costner with the fortress being used to depict Nottingham Castle.