Restaurants & Entertainment
France > Languedoc > Southern > Carcassonne > Eating, drinking and entertainment

Street artists in Carcassonne © Vincent Rousserie

With over fifty restaurants within its walls, the Cité is a good place to look for somewhere to eat, though it tends to be on the expensive side. First choice is the Auberge de Dame Carcas, 3 place du Château (tel 04.68.71.23.23; closed Sun eve, Mon lunch & Feb; menu at €13), a traditional bistro, offering cassoulet and other regional dishes. Otherwise try the Jardin de la Tour, 11 rue Porte d'Aude (closed Sun eve & Nov–Mar), with outside tables, or the smart Brasserie du Donjon, in the hotel of the same name; both serve terroir menus from €11.89. There's a much greater variety of affordable places in the ville basse: among these Le Petit Couvert, at 18 rue de l'Aigle d'Or, has good cheap menus (closed Sun & Mon; from €10.50) and a small street-side terrace, while La Bérbére, 2 rue Denisse, is a friendly Moroccan restaurant and salon du thé (closed Sun & Mon; €8.50 menu). Nearby, at 29 bd Jean-Jaurès, the Divine Comédie serves a varied menu of pasta, pizzas and regional dishes in generous portions (closed Sun; from €12.50). For something more sophisticated, try Chez Fred, beside Jardin Chénier at 31 bd Omer Sarraut (closed Sat lunch; menus at €11.43 & 21.34). For picnic provisions, head for the market on place Carnot (Tues, Thurs & Sat mornings).

Carcassonne hosts two major festivals: the month-long Festival de la Cité in July, with dance, theatre and music, the highpoint of which is the mammoth fireworks display on Bastille Day (July 14); and the elaborate medieval pageant, Les Médiévales, held in the first fortnight of August.