Restoration of the remparts de Carcassonne nears completion

In response to increasing visitor numbers, in 2022 the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) embarked on a major restoration project on the eastern front of the remparts de Carcassonne, thanks to €4.5 million in funding from the France Recovery Plan. The project involved restoring and securing the parapet walk and the towers between the Narbonne towers and the prison tower, some of which had fallen into disrepair.

The work, carried out by Olivier Weets, chief architect of historic monuments, represents the most extensive restoration since that carried out by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The restoration of the eastern front will allow a complete tour of the enclosure from the château comtal, offering an uninterrupted view of the Carcassonne countryside.

The restoration has benefited from the recovery plan

The work involved restoring the masonry, laying the oak floors of the towers and installing safety devices. Particular attention was paid to preserving the 19th-century battlements and replacing damaged stones with Catalan sandstone. The facings were cleaned to remove moss and lichen, and the stones were repointed to ensure the longevity of the structures.

Want to find out more? Find out why the fortress of Carcassonne has a double wall !