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One of the most famous medieval cities in the world, Carcassonne is a picturesque fortified city in the south of France. Carcassonne not only features stunning architectural marvels like its many watchtowers and fortifications, the city also welcomes its visitors with a variety of cultural activities. Boasting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the medieval city and the canal du Midi – Carcassonne has various museums and galleries that are worth checking out.

Les remparts

Museum of Fine Arts

Building, Museum

Offering a fantastic panoramic survey of European art from the 17th century to the present day, The Museum of Fine Arts is filled with paintings and ceramics. Housed in a stunning and spacious old building, the museum mainly exhibits local art in its permanent collection. Aside from showing the permanent collection the museum organizes three temporary exhibition every year. Their exhibition on impressionism in 2015 was very popular. They offer educational tours for schools and general tours for groups.

Musée de l'École - School Museum

Museum, School

Sewing Class with Ms Epshtein at the Hebrew Reali School
© Unknown / Wikipedia
One of the most unique and original museums in town, the School museum will take you back in time with its old desks and school stories, showing what going to school in France has been like in different periods. This educational museum features a historic school setting and old-fashioned classrooms. It only costs three euros and it offers an exciting experience for those interested in history and education. During your visit you’ll be able to use old pens and try to correct your handwriting using the methods that were used in the past.

Musée de l'Inquisition ou Musée de la Torture

Museum

Offering an intriguing cultural experience, pop in the Museum of Torture after a walk around the city and find out some spooky facts about the different ways that have been used to kill and torture prisoners in the history of France. This museum with interactive displays offers an experience that’s both intriguing and horrifying, allowing you to discover some of the most terrifying facts in the country’s history.

Maison des Memoires - Centre Joë Bousquet

The permanent exhibition in the Centre Joe Bousquet recalls the life and work of the Surrealist poet Joë Bousquet. They host two temporary exhibitions during the year, usually during Spring and Autumn. Visitors can get a guide so that it’s easier to understand and enjoy the exhibition and appreciate the poet’s life and what he has written, explaining some of the reasons behind his work. The visit is highly recommended for all lovers of the literature.

Mémoires du Moyen Âge - History Museum

Museum

Dive deep into all the aspects of the medieval history of the magnificent city of Carcassonne. The guides here know everything about the Medieval period so they will surprise you with many stories and interesting facts about what went on during that time. You’ll learn about the secrets behind the construction of the city and the castle and its walls. With the use of models and tiny reproductions of the city the museums shows visitors how the fortified city handled attacks from enemies and how it protected its citizens. These models are animated and even reproduce different sounds and effects. You will also be able to experience how some of the weapons were used. This is an ideal museum to visit with children.
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