Medieval Fortified City, Occitanie, France
Twilight panorama of the castle from the Pont Neuf bridge spanning the River Aude. The hilltop site of Carcassonne has been inhabited since Neolithic times, a natural convergence of strategic historic trade routes which linked the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Home to Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, crusader knights and Cathars, the Cité is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for the exceptional preservation and restoration of its medieval citadel.