Place Carnot, Central square with Neptune fountain in Bastide Saint Louis, Carcassonne, France.
Place Carnot is a central gathering space in Carcassonne's lower town, featuring a Neptune fountain at its heart surrounded by tall plane trees. The perimeter is lined with cafes, shops, and regular market stalls that frame the square.
The square underwent multiple name changes during periods of political transition, shifting from Place Impériale to Place Royale before receiving its current name in 1894. These shifts reflect the region's complex past and changing allegiances.
The square hosts a weekly market where locals and visitors gather to purchase regional products and flowers while catching up on neighborhood news. These gatherings form an important part of daily life in the lower town.
The market operates three mornings each week, and numerous cafes around the perimeter offer comfortable seating and refreshment options. The Neptune fountain and plane trees provide shade and useful landmarks for orientation.
During winter months, the square transforms into an entertainment venue with an ice skating rink and seasonal decorations that attract families. This seasonal transformation makes it a popular destination during the holiday period.
Location: Carcassonne
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: Pl. Carnot, 11000 Carcassonne, France
Opening Hours: Tuesday,Thursday,Saturday 08:00-13:00
GPS coordinates: 43.21320,2.35175
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:10
The region around Carcassonne features an area marked by medieval and Cathar history, with castles, abbeys, and old villages. The Cité of Carcassonne displays its city walls restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc, while the Canal du Midi has traversed the region for 240 kilometers since the 17th century. The castles of Quéribus and Peyrepertuse overlook the landscape from their rocky spurs at over 700 meters above sea level, serving as the last strongholds of the Cathar resistance in the 13th century. Villages like Minerve and Lagrasse showcase medieval architecture, with narrow streets, ancient bridges, and Benedictine abbeys. The region also includes the four Lastours castles aligned along a ridge, the Saint-Maurice Cathedral in Mirepoix with its 22-meter-wide Gothic nave, and natural sites like Lake Cavayère. These monuments and landscapes form a representative ensemble of the south of France’s historical and natural heritage, accessible from Carcassonne.
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