The market is extremely large. I’d say it’s too large. Super crowded. Very hard to find parking if you don’t get there early enough. Many multiples of stalls and lots of Knick knacks. Other markets in the area are more manageable and have the same stuff. Visiting the town on a non market day lets you see the real beauty of the town. Show up early or late (after 1pm) and parking and visiting becomes more manageable.

Such a lovely town. Stayed Sept 25, picturesque with a fabulous Sunday market which is heaving! Great choice of restaurants, bars & shops to mooch about in.

Larger market winding through town and along canals. Lovely. Lots of food, cheese, bread, clothing, antiques. Town itself is very nice.

A very charming place. To find parking, it's best to arrive by 9:30.

Very busy lunch time during summer time ..lots of cafes don't take card so make sure you have cash in hand. There are cafes around fountain in the middle . Waiting time is Long ,but the problem is pegion and water in the fountain stinks .Lots of shops and cafes nearby .... beautiful town with lots of tourist . Shops are way too expensive ,you go to small towns like caroentras you get the same items for the half of price . Good for a half day out .

Awesome!!! We went to the market in October and it rained the whole time but it was so worth it to still be out and about! Great market with lots of amazing things to buy- very friendly people

Huge market! After scrambling to find parking (hint: get there early), didn’t know where to start. So many options and side streets. This market spreads all over the town. Have never seen anything like it.

Absolutely amazing that this theatre is still standing and so well preserved through history. We loved the audio guide that we could listen to in English and learn more about the history. A must to visit if you are in the area.

Historical & Epic Roman Theater This is one of the best preserved Roman Theaters in Europe. It is 2000 years old, incredible when you see it. They actually still use it for plays, which I find amazing that this theater still serves its original purpose. Highly recommended visit.

Absolutely beautiful! Staff are fantastic and offer audio, visual and virtual reality tour! We bought our own picnic with us as it's allowed! With the tickets you can visit the history museum accross the road for free!

The Théâtre antique d’Orange is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, built during the reign of Emperor Augustus in the 1st century AD. Located in the town of Orange, Provence, it once seated around 9,000 spectators and served as a center of Roman cultural life. Open year-round with a museum and panoramic views from the upper terraces. Best visited in the morning light for photography or during an evening performance for an unforgettable acoustic experience. *Hidden Details* The Emperor’s Presence: The central niche behind the stage once held a 12-meter statue of Emperor Augustus — not a replica, but a visual reminder that Roman theatre was as much about imperial propaganda as art. A smaller original head fragment is displayed in the site museum. “Echo Wall” Engineering: The stage wall’s limestone blocks were fitted without mortar, creating a natural resonance chamber. Actors didn’t need to shout — the curved design amplified voices perfectly, even to the top seats. Secret Backstage World: Beneath and behind the stage lay corridors, pulley shafts, and trapdoors for stage effects — early Roman “stage machinery.” You can still trace parts of these backstage systems during guided tours. Medieval Reuse: After Rome’s fall, the theatre became a fortress, then a refuge for townspeople during wars. Some homes were literally built into the stands until Napoleon ordered restoration in the 1800s. Ancient Graffiti: On the upper tiers, faint Latin inscriptions and marks made by stonecutters are still visible — craftsmen signed their work or marked seating areas for different social ranks. Acoustic Sweet Spot: Guides often demonstrate that a whisper from the center of the orchestra floor carries clearly to the highest rows — a perfect spot to test Roman sound mastery. Modern Revival: The Chorégies d’Orange festival, revived in 1869, continues the Roman tradition of open-air performances. Modern productions still use the original wall as a natural stage backdrop, with no need for amplification.

What a beautiful place to have a live concert. Also great history. Lots of children on day camp trips, but still not too long of lines. It is very hot in June, but if you tick to the caves where there are many educational exhibits, then it is bearable. I went over a decade ago, and today experience was much nicer. The VR concert experience was a hit with the family.

An excellent example of Roman Ampitheatre architecture still standing today in such excellent condition. The shear size of it is amazing.

Well worth a visit. Astonishingly well kept and still being used today for events, 2,050 years after being built. The tour is excellent.

Nice flow through the park. Super clean. Mostly indoors and a lovely children's outdoor play area towards the end. Gift store is also lovely but very very expensive.

Perfect day out! We went with no expectations, even in our 20s we had such a blast. So many animals to see, it was a beautiful, well designed layout that kept us entertained for almost two hours. The animals look well taken care of, we had a lot of fun in particular trying to spot/count as many pythons as we could. We loved it so much we told our parents to reroute so they could come see it too (and they also loved it!). We’d honestly go again if we’re ever back in the area.

Great activity with the kids This is a great place to come too with the family. We always stop in the Ferme des Crocodiles. They have many animals and they really seem to take good care of them. It is a great day out. The animals are in a nice habitats. The people who work here know a lot about them and seem quite eager to help & answer the kids questions which is really nice. The price seemed pretty fair to us. No issue there we stayed quite a few hours. Highly recommended!

Very interesting for children. There are multiple playgrounds inside, too. It is a great visit. The only thing I would take care of is the vending machine that took our money twice without giving is the water we needed in the very hot weather.

A really cool and fun day out. There are A LOT of animals in nice habitats. The staff is open to question and seem to know a fair bit. The entrance price is a bit high but the care for these animals is expensive and in total we stayed 3,5 hours so it was totally worth it.

It’s a wow place for sure. It starts with a small room with a few of animals. I thought that it would be the same but when you open the second door you are in a tropical forest! It’s so impressive. There are more than 350 crocodiles, many birds, snakes, turtles. The staff conduct small performances feeding animals and explaining interesting moments about reptiles and birds. There are a lot of exotic species and plants including coffee and cocoa! It’s pretty expensive- 19 euros per person - but it’s worth it for sure.

Awesome and thorough park for crocodiles , turtles and other animals! It’s tricky in hot weather though - the frost third of the park is pretty stuffy and humid (naturally for the animals) but could use better ventilation or some fans for the humans. I had to leave my family early because it made me nauseous :( The main attractions really only start about 1/3-1/2 way through the visit so you kind of need to push through the beginning quickly. The playground area by the restaurant was cool and there were a few decent options for food. A lot of junk though (cookies, donuts, candy, etc) so it’s better to pack a picnic for smaller kids. Otherwise it was a great outing for our mixed group with kids ranging from 2-16.

An interesting, if slightly disappointing, point of interest. The structure is amazing. A palace and fortress, it commands your attention. However, the interior is sterile. No furniture, tapestries, or frescoes. Only a couple chambers with faded wall coloration. Without the current art exhibition it would be largely colorless. The tour is also relatively short. There must be large sections not accessible to the public. The garden is neat and well cared for, but small. With all this in mind, it is still worth visiting for its historical significance and the architecture. Note: the iPad guidance is quite good. Take time to read the information boards placed throughout the tour. Get tickets in advance online for a timed entry.

Everything is massive in this fortress and palace at the same time that was built in two stages. The Old Palace (1335–1342) built by Pope Benedict XII and the New Palace (1342–1352) Pope Clement VI, the Magnificent. It's one of the largest medieval gothic buildings in Europe. Seven successive French popes resided here between 1309 and 1377, fleeing the political turmoil and insecurity in Rome, When you enter you get a Histopad which is a handy tablet which you can use to navigate through the building. A nice feature is the historic overlay that you activate by scanning a logos in the different rooms. The overlay then shows the situation as it would be in 1352, the year of completion of the palace and the Papal Conclave and Election of Innocent VI after Pope Clement VI died. The rather dull interiors are brightend a bit by modern art. The garden is small and really not worth the extra money you hsve to pay to visit it. It took me two hours to see all the rooms and climb up to the ramparts to get a view of the surrounding area. Oh, and the taste in the 14th century is different from today. Roasted peacock anyone? And a glass of Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape ?

A disrespectful use of this unique historic monument, reduced to a playground for some contemporary artist. The two stars go for the historic significance of this monument and the indeed impressive structure. Unfortunately, it seemed to us that the team assigned with managing this monument was decided to cut any ties to what they must have considered to be embarrassing art from the era when the Palais was at its finest: they basically degraded the Palais des Papes to an exhibition center of contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel. Fact is that none of the visitors went to “Palace of the Popes” to see some modern art exhibition. Instead of investing the money to maintain the rooms and gardens, they managed to destroy the experience. You can’t possibly feel the vibe of the place while constantly being distracted, intruded and violated by some pieces of art, which are basically in the wrong place. The tour is a bit chaotic but we got it sorted out by asking the helpful personnel. The tablets - initially I thought a good idea - turned out to be a semi-functioning annoyance (have to carry it around, too heavy to sit on the neck). I would rather enjoy the monument by “breathing it in”, look at it in awe, not keep scrolling on a tablet. Most signs with explanations were in French. If someone does not appreciate the Christian history, the religious art of that time or might even be embarrassed by all of those uncool people of that period, they probably shouldn’t be involved with managing this site. Let them run a modern art gallery: I would gladly visit it. But just as when I go to the MOMA I don’t expect it to be full of medieval religious art, when I go to the Palace of the Popes I probably don’t expect it to be full of modern art. This here is unworthy: Show some respect to the history and significance of this place and the people who created it. This is not just another playground. Please!

Fascinating collection of buildings in Avignon detailing the time of the 'Avignon Popes' in France. I found the Histopad guide wasn't particularly helpful, but the rest of the displays were great. Interesting artwork integrated throughout. The gardens were especially nice.

Very interesting. So much better than the crazy tourist traffic and the hundreds of tour groups you have to wade through to see the Sistine Chapel. Low fees, no lines, very little crowding, and amazing history. Definitely a not to miss site. We visited the palace, gardens and bridge.

Particularly impressive. The exhibition was interesting alongside the impressive building. You get a tablet with explanations in adapted language and there are explanations. The signage inside the buildings was a bit problematic and sometimes the tablet got stuck and didn't work well, but overall it was lovely.

Magnificent structure. Steeped in history. There is information in every room. You also get a tablet to read about whatever room your in. Would recommend everyone to visit. The garden are quite small but interesting.

To be honest I cannot say I liked it! Lots of people, they check your bags. The same way to go to the gardens but when we bought tickets no one told us the gardens are closed for 2 years already. They have toilet in the corner. Views much better from the castle. Maybe 🤔 from another side of the river view much better.

You're telling me I have to pay to walk on a bridge that doesn't even go the full way across the river it is built on? Do you know how many bridges I have crossed--for free--that DO fully cross their respective river? EVERY OTHER BRIDGE I HAVE EVER CROSSED. It does offer a nice view of the city, at least.

Lovely remains of a bridge on which you can walk and learn about it, the Rhone, and the Avignon Popes -- proceed included in your ticket for the Palais des Papes.

Definitely worth a visit! The entrance is only €5, and although the audio guide can be a bit confusing at times, the visit is still very worthwhile. The video about the reconstruction is especially interesting and clearly explained. In short: a small price for a rich and unique experience!

Currently have a cool art installation in addition to the ancient partial bridge. Watch your steps! Coming down some stairs , I landed wrong and pulled something in my hip/glute; still uncomfortable after almost a week.

The Bridge in the Nowhere — because, well, it’s not exactly taking you anywhere anymore! But that’s part of the charm of the Pont Saint-Bénézet, a historic bridge in Avignon that stands proudly as a symbol of the city, even though it no longer spans the Rhône River entirely. Fun Facts: • The bridge originally had 22 arches, but now only four remain. The missing arches were destroyed over time due to floods and natural wear. • Saint Bénézet, after whom the bridge is named, was a shepherd who, according to legend, was told by God to build the bridge. He supposedly carried a large stone across the river by himself to prove his divine mission. • The bridge is also famously featured in the popular French song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon,” which has made it internationally recognizable. This beautiful structure is a marvelous sight, offering a peaceful stroll across the remaining arches. The view of the Rhône River and the surrounding city is stunning, and the serene walk gives you a sense of stepping back in time. You can almost imagine how it must have felt centuries ago when the bridge was a vital crossing point connecting the north and south of the river. As for the history, the Pont Saint-Bénézet dates back to the 12th century and was a critical part of medieval trade routes. Over time, however, it fell victim to both natural disasters and warfare, leaving only a few of its arches still standing. Despite the passage of time, the bridge remains a powerful reminder of the city’s medieval significance and the ingenuity of its builders. Admission is €5 for adults, and it’s free for those under 18. For visitors over 64, there is a discounted rate — €4.

Good day outing activity. One bridge and chapel in the middle with historic importance to avignion. You need to buy the ticket the price doesn't justify it . However beautiful on a sunny day out . If you have a plan to go to palace de Pope which you should do ....they will seel combo tickets where you will find tickets couple of euros cheaper . Give yourself 3 hours for descent exploration for both attractions. Do not each musesls and french fries from any of the shops nearby . It's all pre cooked and served cold . We wasted money in 2 different occasions. Do good research and enjoy lunch . Book in advance as place is very popular.

A magical immersive art experience inside a former quarry! The projections are stunning, the music perfectly matches the visuals, and the atmosphere is breathtaking. Easy parking, smooth organization, and enjoyable for all ages. Absolutely a must-visit in Provence!

We've seen the Van Gogh exhibition in St Petersburg and Klimpt in Phoenix. This exhibit outdors Klimpt by light years and is better than Van Gogh. Seating is limited but the space is gigantic in comparison. totally amazing!

One of the most unique experiences we had! Combination of space, art and technology is sublime, you can't help it but stand in awe for stories unfolded all around you. We visited Monet / Rousseau show and it was amazing 😁 Parking is a bit tricky, there are many places to park but there are also many visitors so you might lose some time finding parking spot. Also, explore area, there are amazing spots!

Amazing experience with the light display and the music. Why not 5 stars? Two reason traffic and finding a place to park is very hard. Recommend coming early or late evening. 2nd, I feel the show could have done with a bit of commentary to set the scene to help engagement for the children.

A must go to if you’re around this way, inside this quarry such an amazing feat, we had a couple of art displays from Monet and Rousseau in about an hour show, nearly as interesting as the lumieres show in Bordeaux at the submarine bunker I love the way they do this here in France the locations are fantastic

It is not as nice as people can think. But it is well executed, unique and absolutely worth a visit. Plus you are next to the "baux de Provence" so you can combine the visit. It is nice with children even of young age as they are free to move.

Absolutely amazing. The wall were alive with famous paintings that were constantly changing. With the use of visual effects and backed up by sound throughout, I was totally submerged into the whole experience.

Amazing place! Friendly and attentive personnel. Well structured and of a good quality audio guide. The drawings on the walls are very well done and storytelling. With a good weather we could also enjoy the open air animation with the Indian houses and their life attributes. And the panoramic video about the history of life attributes the Earth was breathtaking! I really recommend this place for visiting!

Amazing reconstruction of an amazing discovery. Mind blowing story and fantastic representation with an Underground accessible experience. A true wonder of the world. The cafe was delicious and gourmet and the food was so beautiful and made with pride. Delicious!

Really interesting and magnificently presented facsimile of some of the earliest human art - that is to say, cave paintings from more than 20,000 years ago (you can’t visit the original for obvious reasons). The headsets for the main cave are available in several languages, then the additional areas provide interesting background information.

Absolutely worth a visit!!! Great museum, displays & animation. Detailed replica of the oldest known to man unique caves discovered in 1994.

Very interesting and impressive. Also mz kids liked it. I can recommend the place.

A fantastic and interactive experience, great for kids and adults to experience life 38,000 years ago and a great explanation of the fascinating science they used to date & discover the original site. The reconstruction of the cave is truly impressive. Everything is accessible for wheelchair user. The displays are all in French and English and the food in restaurant is excellent and good value for money.

Just perfect! Absolutely peerless copy of Chauvet - you feel you are there. The tour is great - thought provoking and wild! It is SO worth the entrance fee - we were blown away!!

Impressive Roman Amphitheater built around 90 CE when the Flavian dynasty ruled in Rome and Domitian was emperor. Not surprisingly the arena was modelled after the Flavian Amphitheater aka Colloseum in Rome. It could hold 20.000 spectators who would watch brutal gladiator games and fights with wild animals. When the western Roman empire had collapsed in the 5th century CE it became a fortess with four towers of which two survived. In medieval times there were even 200 houses, squares and chapels built inside making it a town within a town Like with other arenas large steel structures are built inside with seating for spectators taking away most of the original atmosphere.

Beautiful, beautiful history. The architectural details are absolutely stunning—I can’t believe this has stood for so many years! It truly takes your breath away. It looks just like the Colosseum in Rome. Timeless, majestic, and unforgettable.

I was fortunate to attend Arles Rice Festival in mid- September and celebrated the Camargue rice harvest. I saw the traditional Provençal bullfight, course camarguaise in the Arles Amphitheatre. It's not Spanish Bullfight so no bulls were killed. The Arles Amphitheatre was fascinating and there are many events in the summer time so you can experience the Arles Amphitheatre.

We were in Arles for a photography festival. The festival was pretty diverse in themes, thus might interest a large number of people. The added bonus is that we were able to see spots as festival locations we would miss if we were to stick to main tourist attractions. Arles is a very old Roman city worth visiting.

Stayed at the local campsite. Very cheap to get into the city. The day we went all the museums were free. The amphitheatre and collusseum were worth the price alone. Beautiful and so easy to access.

Incredible to think this structure has stood for over 2,000 years definitely worth seeing from the outside. Going inside, however, is a bit underwhelming. There isn’t much to look at, and the lack of information or context means your visit will likely be very quick!

Spectacularly intact Roman arena. Well worth visiting and the combination ticket to visit some of the other historical sites was a good value option. Not much in the way of interpretation panels, just a few on the way in, then enjoy the arena

Roman aqueduct, crossing the Gard river. Spectacular and within a beautiful natural setting. Possibility to cross the bridge and enjoy beaches and several points of view. Plenty of easy trecks around the monument.

Our visit to the Pont du Gard on October 8 was absolutely unforgettable. I went there with my friends and together we walked the peaceful paths leading down to the river, surrounded by the golden warmth of the southern French autumn. Before we even reached the bridge, we stumbled upon several strawberry trees— not real strawberries, but Arbutus unedo, also called the strawberry tree. Their fruit looked almost too bright to be real — tiny red, textured berries with a surprisingly sweet and tangy flavor. They turned out to be a wonderful surprise ,something unique and truly delicious. Then, turning a corner, the magnificent Roman aqueduct unfolded before us. The Pont du Gard rises from the landscape like a vision — three tiers of stone arches reflecting perfectly in the clear waters of the Gardon River.Nearly 2,000 years old, it served as part of an aqueduct that once carried water to ancient Nîmes. Even today, it feels alive with history — a triumph of precision and beauty. We spent the afternoon walking along the riverbank, taking in the symmetry, the soft rustle of leaves, and the warmth of the sun against the limestone. It’s the kind of place that makes you pause and breathe, reminding you how enduring human creation can be when shaped with purpose. In short:A day filled with history, nature, and quiet wonder — shared with good company and bright red strawberry tree fruit as an unexpected delight. Must-see rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Visited:October 8 Highlights:Ancient Roman engineering, peaceful riverside walks, and the discovery of the strawberry tree fruit — sweet, wild, and unforgettable.

So much grander than I expected! An incredible feat of engineering from a time before electricity, gas, or diesel power! Thisbis monument to time, craftsmanship and ingenuity. Leave it to the Roman's to leave me impressed. A MUST SEE destination in France.

The Pont du Gard is a towering three-tiered aqueduct bridge built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. Interesting facts we found out about the bridge: • It was built without mortar: the roughly 50,400 tonnes of limestone were cut and fitted so precisely that the blocks hold by gravity and friction alone. • The aqueduct channel that the bridge is part of drops only about 12.6 m over 50 km (~1 in 4,000 gradient) — extremely slight for such a long distance. • Many stonemasons left their marks on the stones: more than 320 “compagnon” marks have been found on the monument, some from as early as 1611. • Over its history the bridge served various roles: after its time as a water aqueduct it became a toll bridge, and later, in the 18th century, a road bridge was built alongside it. • It survived major floods in modern times (1958, 1998 and 2002) which tested its structure — impressive given its age. Getting there & timing: • Located near Vers-Pont-du-Gard in Occitanie, about 20 km from Nîmes. • The site opens around 09:00. Hours vary by season; check official site for current times. • Allow 1.5 to 3 hours, or a full day if you include walks, river time and the museum. What to do & best spots: • Walk across the lower level to appreciate the arches up close and the river beneath. • Visit the on-site museum: interactive exhibits, scale models, virtual reconstructions — good for history context. • Swim or relax by the river banks — the scenery and setting are excellent for a rest, especially in warmer months. • For photography: early morning or late afternoon gives good light through the arches and fewer crowds. Tips & practical advice: • Parking is paid and you should check whether parking closes at a certain time (especially after dark). • During high season it may be busier; consider visiting in shoulder season for a calmer experience. • Wear sturdy walking shoes if you plan any of the walking trails around the site. • If you want to access the third (top) level of the aqueduct bridge, this requires a guided tour — check availability in advance. • Bring swimwear/towel if you plan to enjoy the river; also sun protection.

It’s hard to imagine something so magnificent and strong is two thousand years old and still standing. The bridge and the surrounding parks and land provided a wonderful place to spend a lovely afternoon enjoying the sun, the outdoors, and understand more about the long history of la République.

Le Pont du Gard is an icon from days gone by from the Roman era. It’s been on my bucket list for years to see. I like it because it represents the great engineering skills that people with little technology could use to build something that will stand through the ages. The site is well setup to handle tourists coming to look at the aquaduct, and the, later built, viaduct. Tourist offices are situated on each side of the river, and one of them has a museum/exposition/cinema/gift shop/ complex. And, walking tours are conducted to the bridge. A good visit. I arrived here on a bus shuttle from Avignon. I hear there is also a shuttle from Nimes, France. Recommended for those interested in area history, architecture, and Roman life.

Such a cute lake—perfect for family fun! The atmosphere is peaceful and great for a day out with the kids. It could definitely use more shade and seating, though. A little more comfort would make this spot absolutely perfect!

Incredibly well preserved Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, France. It is just like visiting the Colosseum in Rome but it is far less busy and in considerably better condition-- they even still hold events here! My only regret is not being able to see an event in the arena, as I can only imagine this would be spectacular. In any case it is a very worthwhile sight to see in Nîmes

We ticked off a bucket list item today by visiting the Arena in Nimes and it didn’t disappoint. The history of this incredible structure makes you want to go back in time and just see what life was like. It is bigger and more impressive than we expected. As we left we walked through the gift shop and the lovely Agnes (I so hope I have the name correct) chatted with us and told us some other places to go, she was so lovely and proud of this beautiful area! It isn’t just the Arena, it is the entire area, stunning, surprising and full of history, I am so glad I have experienced it.

Beautiful amphitheatre. Make sure you check that there are no ongoing shows at night because you won't be able to enter unless you buy a ticket! I believe until the 18th of August (2025) there are shows every night, Dream of a Gladiator. It was quite nice, for a not too bad a of a price. The theater has now seating on top of the stone seating so definitely takes a way from the actual look of the amphitheatre. Quite impressive and unexpected!

We were there early November and practically had the place to ourselves. What a treat! The free audio guide is an absolute must. Lots of good info in succinct pieces (not overwhelming). So many extra side exhibits to entertain all ages. Dog friendly, too!

We spent about 3 hours exploring this site. It was the reason we came to Nîmes, and we were not disappointed. The view of the city from the topmost row of seats is beautiful, even if climbing up there was a bit vertigo-inducing! The two small enclosed exhibits on the ground floor were interesting, too.

The interior and exterior are beautiful and crowded with tourists. It is recommended to buy tickets online beforehand so that you do not have to queue for the audio guide. We can download the audio guide by QR code and then listen to it by number.

Built around AD 90–100, about two decades after the Colosseum in Rome, the arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Constructed as a grand entertainment venue for the citizens of the Roman colony of Nemausus, the structure stands approximately 21 meters tall with a two-tiered facade composed of 60 arches per level, totaling 120 arches in a highly refined architectural design. From the 13th to the 18th century, the arena was transformed into a fortress-like residential quarter, housing over 700 inhabitants. In 1786, the internal dwellings were gradually dismantled to restore the monument’s original form. Originally capable of accommodating around 24,000 spectators, the venue now holds approximately 16,000 people for safety and conservation purposes. Today, the amphitheater serves as a dynamic cultural and entertainment space, hosting traditional bullfights, Camargue-style bull games, the annual Festival de Nîmes, concerts, and historical reenactments. ※ Included in the Pass Romanité.

Highly recommend visiting to see the wonder of the flamingos! We saw hundreds of them - an awe-inspiring experience. There are a couple of circular walks recommended along well-maintained paths. Parking is just off the road and entrance was very good value. Use some bug spray and seeing some flamingos!

We came here on a trip and we did the smaller walk from 1 to 10 and back out the exit. We saw loads of wildlife, even a beaver! But the highlight of the show was these beautiful and colourful flamingos. I could have spent days at the park just watching and walking and taking my time but we had just short of 2 hours and we did the short walk comfortably enough. Would recommend to go and see the beautiful wildlife.

Definitely recommend this place, amazing views on beautiful birds, very informative and nice walk. Parking was a bit of a hassle, but there is space for everyone, just may need to walk a little. There is a shorter and a longer way, the short one took about 1,5h, longer one was said to be additional 2h. There were very nice tables and benches to rest, huts and observatories, a lunch area and a gift shop. You should definitely come and visit if you are in the area.

Aside from the car parking issue, which has been mentioned by several reviewers, the park was what you'd imagine it to be: a wildlife sanctuary for birds seeking refuge from harsh winters. Watching the flamingoes take flight was mesmerizing - so much so that we spent a good part of our time there watching the birds in the water. Be prepared to allocate time to wander about at a recreational pace. We had allocated one hour, and barely made it through half of the smaller route. That said, we utterly loved the short time spent and wished we had more time to see the park.

As a birder, it is a bit of a weird experience when you first get there (I visited twice in July). You pay a small entrance fee and the park only opens at 09:00. There a basically two sides to the park. One side that feels a bit like a zoo, with as many tourists as flamingo's, herons and egrets (some at less than a meter), and one side that actually are wetlands with bird hides. Despite the weird first impression, I would definitely recommend a visit if you are a birder. I would go back if I ever visit the area again. When I visited (late July) a lot of migratory waders like (spotted) redshanks, godwits, (marsh) sandpipers and a lot of terns (common, little, whiskered, gull billed) were present. Ebird checklists for the area give a good impression of the birds present in the park.

Amazing place to see birds and especially flamingos from a very short distance, accessible to strollers. Very unpleasant chemical toilets. Kiosk and souvenir shop at exorbitant prices

I have long wished to visit the Camargue to see the Flamingos and other wildlife and the Parc Orthinologie was a fantastic place to experience this. It is handily placed to Arles and well set up for visitors of all ages and abilities. Well worth a visit even when you have to travel half way around the world to get there.

Very nice and calm place. Highly maintained. Great for both adults and children. Took us around two hours of walking. The pigs and the dragon parts are the best. A very nice place for those who seek calmness and a great sort-of-nature unique experience. Fair prices (especially for families).

Educational and interesting. Never knew there were so many variables of bamboo. We enjoyed a picnic in one of the beautiful garden.

Lovely gardens to walk around. Beautiful and the zen garden is so relaxing. Lovely ponds, well looked after. The sun shining helped.

What a surprise to see a bamboo forest in France! It’s a great park where you can both have fun and relax within the tropical plants and bamboos. You can know more about these plants, enjoy the Japanese garden, and even buy different trees and flowers as well as things made of bamboo. Definitely it’s a good spot both for adults and kids. There are also some animals to observe. So, I would recommend for sure.

The gardens are beautiful, spent just over an hour walking around but it was enough to see everything. We were in Japan earlier in the year and saw the Bamboo Forest there but this was just as good and far less crowded! Definitely worth doing if in the area.

Simply beautiful and very interesting! Dogs are allowed and a there are a few playgrounds for kids.

An excellent place to visit. Very relaxing, beautiful and like you have travelled to Asian counties like Laos and Japan. However, it is better to buy online the tickets as there's a long queue at the counter just to buy entrance tickets. It's difficult to park though when it's peak season.

One of the best oceanariums I have visited in France. I think it’s pretty cozy and definitely can be an attractive touristic spot in summer.

Nice way to get out of the heat. But apparently everyone else in the entire south France has the same idea. Parking a car was not the easiest. Saw lots of fish. Some very large things. Some tiny things. The shop was good. WiFi didn't work.

It's a nice place to spend time with kids or anyone who's interested in underwater life. For 16€ for an adult, you can see sharks, rays, huge turtles, different fish, other sea creatures and seals. The place is full of information about sea life, endangered species, water pollution puzzles for curious minds. The day I visited the seaquarium, there was a quest for children : they got a task at the entrance and had to look for clues around the aquarium. So their time there wasn't just wondering around and watching fish. There's a parking next to it and a few places to eat. The photos I post can't show the real beauty of the place, so go and check it yourself 🤗

Very nice place to visit. Was quite packed, but it was a nice experience for us and our 16 months old

Great Aquarium for a 2-hour visit! Plenty of activities for kids, clean and tidy aquariums. The fish look healthy and well taken care of. The entrance fees are reasonable for what you can see and do. There are some booths for pictures, an area where you can touch mini-sharks (highly recommended, really cool experience also for kids as they cannot bite). Overall a nice experience and time well spent! Really educative especially with regards to sensibilisation to waste in the oceans.

Nice and modern sea aquarium. We were there during end of season and some items were not in use or was being cleaned. Fair money for value. Staff friendly and helpful. Highlight is are the baby sharks wich can be touched. That was a stunning experience. Interesting story of the monk seal. Visit is worth it.

Surprisingly big aquarium for a small town

It's nice but the queues are indescribable. I spent an hour and 10 minutes to boomerang and another hour to do the rapid rafting. You simply get tired while you wait and by the time you get to the top you're not in the mood anymore.The queue moves extremely slowly and it is not normal as I have been in other aqualands and no matter how crowded it was more than 20 minutes I didn't wait . The pool was full of hair, grass and filth. There should be a certain limit when it comes to hair to be caught in a bun, no long clothes which by the way today I saw a lady in long tights and t-shirt when she was swinging her kite in the boomerang although the sign with the forbidden symbole was right in her nose and of course the lifeguard did not say anything . Well, is it normal like that? Either we all respect some rules or... not to mention the phones in the toboggan what are they doing there?

It was a fun day in aqualamd cap d'adge. Best was the. Morning, where nöt so man peoble were around, and therefore only short queues. Lunch was only Hamburger and a bit expensive för the whole family.

A great day out for the family. Loads of slides and pools to enjoy with something for everyone. No parking for aqualand itself but instead there are town parking lots literally just a 5min walk away HOWEVER BEWARE of you are in a campervan or something taller as these carparks are height restricted to 2.25mts!!! Our van is exactly 2.25m the tall and wouldn't fit in the main carparks ... after squeezing under one barrier we then couldn't fit under the exit barrier (this was actually lower than the entrance barrier) so had to go out the wrong way 🤦‍♂️ After trying several other places we eventually found a carpark where the height barrier was open so we got parked up ok in the end and had about a 10min walk to the water park. Not sure if we would have been so lucky had this car park not had it barrier open. The park itself is clean and great fun. Be prepared to queue for rides and keep applying the sunscreen as some queues can be quite exposed to the sun. Food fairly expensive as to be expected at a theme park and we found that the burgers, pizza, e t stopped being serv d at around 4pm. Highly recommended though and well worth a visit!!

A good day out for a while family or just couples/friends. Reasonable prices, well maintained and good food available. Tickets are slightly cheaper if you book in advance online.

This park used to be what is best on the market about 15 years ago. But this new visit left us truly disappointed. The price is quite high for the size of the park and they make you spit additional fees for absolutely everything (locker box, parking, lounge chairs...) The ride "Surf Racer" is really dangerous and should be revised, we saw so many people leaving it injured. There are almost no family rides for 4 to 6 year old kids. But the biggest disappointment came with the FAST PASS. It basically doubles up the price of the entrance, but with no discount and even younger kids that are not paying the entrance need to pay for it!!! And what do you get for it? A separate queue for the inflatables... and that's it! You have to queue all the way to the top of the ride like everybody else. The gain might be about 7 to 10 minutes out of 35-40 minutes total wait time. And not even all the rides offer it (the Anaconda does not have a Fast Pass queue) It's a total rip-off. In the end the kids had fun but we could not even make all the rides even with our fast pass and I the value for money is revolting.

I will start by saying obviously its August so expected it to be busy. But..... Bad. .You have to que twice for each slide once to collect a raft/float and again to actually cue for the slide and both ques are not short. .Most stairs to slides are cut into 2 which makes it difficult to actually carry raft safely up them. .I went with my 2 sons aged 10 & 6 and most slides are 2 persons and have to have 2 persons so was unable to go on as i cant leave a child waiting around 40 minutes while i que with the other. .Food was over prices . Lack off shaded areas .€7 euro for a tiny locker €14 for a bigger locker Good. . Staff are helpful and very nice . Very clean

It's not the most pleasant experience. The food was expensive and tasted worse than McDonald's. The fast pass was almost as much as the tickets, but everyone was skipping the line anyways so I wasted my money on that. Also, on the very first slide my partner and I fell out of the tube and banged our head, me till I bleed, and no staff were at the bottom to even notice or care.

Some visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, others visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, others Dubai, but there is an underrated place where there are incredible views and all kinds of outdoor activities from downhill to hiking, and it is nothing more and nothing less than the Millau Viaduct. It has a height of 300m and a length of 2000m, it is one of the highest bridges in the world (it appeared in the movie Mr. Bean's Holiday).

Nice to see the tallest bridge -336,4m- in the world. The best part is that you can see it from underneath. This gives you the best view of how tall it is. Absolutely amazing. There is also the possibility to have a guided tour.

A truly magnificent place. The drive from Montpellier is just over 1 hour. You don’t need to do the u-turn like google says, just past the bridge going north there is an exit to the visitor center. We recommend arriving early and walking the trail for picture perfect views of Millau, the bridge, and the visitor center. No food onsite, but bring a lunch or snack and enjoy at picnic tables with an amazing view.

If you like bridges then this one is for you. We drove over 2000 Kilometers to get to this bridge and it was well worth the time. I could stand and look at it all day. It reminds me of a professional athlete: disciplined, great shape, and strong. I think its sexy looking.

Picturesque views of the bridge and over the surrounding canyon. Just a small few minute hike up the hill from the parking lot. Recommend!

The viewing platform with wind barriers is a great improvement since my last visit in 2016

Amazing viewing point. Where you can go take some pics and enjoy the sight.

Worth the walk for this historical spectacle. It's about half an hour for the able bodied, with nice views back across L'Orb and to the Cathedral. For the less mobile, the little train takes you from the Cathedral to the locks and return with interesting facts about the locality en route. Toilets and cafe at the top of the locks, plus option to take a canal boat trip. Best booked in advance in busy periods.

Absolutely worth visiting. Buy a ticket for the canal tour. It will take you up the locks which is a nice experience. Beautiful area and go into Beziers after. Visiting the locks is a half day trip. The boat tour is 1 hour and 15 mins.

A masterpiece still in operation, these 9 locks that follow one another, you should not hesitate to visit this place. In excellent condition and very well laid out, you can follow the paths along the canal and arrive near the very beautiful and old bridge. From Toulouse, the Canal du Midi reaches Béziers via a 54-kilometer-long reach (a section of canal without locks). Over this distance, the canal remains at an altitude of 31.54 meters. But at Fonseranes, the canal must descend a steep 25-meter drop to reach the Orb, a necessary passage for boats heading to Agde. To establish the connection between the canal and the Orb, an extraordinary lock was built. Thanks to a successful initial experiment in Castelnaudary, Riquet knew that the secret lay in a lock with multiple chambers. Faced with the significant difference in altitude, Riquet and his works director decided to add eight chambers, twice as many as those of the Saint-Roch lock in Castelnaudary ! Work on the Fonseranes lock began in 1667 and was completed in 1680. The structure is impressive! At 315 meters long and with a total drop of 21.18 meters, this lock ladder is the largest ever built in France ...

A rather exceptional engineering feat built in the 17th century to create a navigable route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. In addition to being a spectacular series of locks in short succession, the canal has a tunnel, several cool bridges including one for the canal to cross above the river. I recommend obtaining details about the history to appreciate it best. Boat tours are long if you take the roundtrip, might be best to join a tour only do the way back down, going towards the Mediterranean.

A wonderful feat of engineering. Lovely and informative video in the information centre ( 3 Euro) Watching the boats pass through the locks, very interesting - especially when one of the gates won't shut. Pleasent walk from Beziers, through the old port area, which is going to be restored and across the old town bridge.

Been here a coupke of times before. Now you can only walk on one side of them but still nice and its actually better for taking photos without a lot of people.

A dream come true passing through the Fonseranes. Absolutely a marvel and one of the best parts of the Canal du Midi. It takes about 45 minutes to pass through with timed entry in the morning and afternoon depending on direction.

Visited without booking and we could not get tickets to enter house as it was fully booked so recommend booking before going. We visited the gardens though, ticket 6 euro and well worth a visit as it has a lot of Dali's touches. Also bar and beach for a beer, coffee and stroll amongst the boats.

I bought our tickets about two months in advance so we were ready. What we were not ready for was how cool the house was!! We had a friendly guide where took us through and spoke English and French to the rest. I loved that they had lockers free of charge available for larger bags. Also the Caffe by the entrance has a cute balcony on the top floor and tables outside. It was uplifting to soak up the local atmosphere.

100,000% worth the visit! Buy tickets in advance as tour groups are kept to 10 people at a time. Excellent museum with guides who know their material. It was a highlight experience to walk into the Secret Room where Dalí had his parties and where you can hear an echo of your voice. Loved touring the large olive orchards and seeing how Dalí lived and worked. Save time to watch the video at the top of the orchard. We stayed in Cadaques and loved our time there, if driving in give yourself plenty of time to arrive and navigate the mountain roads and take in the views. Would absolutely love to return to this wonderful place.

We loved our visit to the Dali house and gardens. Booking tickets in advance is recommended since groups are limited to 8 people at a time. The guides provided explanations in English, Spanish, Catalan, and French.

Great tour guide who speaks several languages fluently. Interesting place. Need to book tickets and time for your visit ahead of time. We booked a couple weeks in advance.

Ok, first I will answer to all 1⭐️: buy your tickets in advance and be on time. Museum is an old theatre restored and some corridors are just to narrow to accommodate more people. About museum: after seeing lots of museums all over the world, not even Dali fan, I have to say- you have to visit it.

Well, I will say that the staff here is super friendly and helpful. We had a little ticket slip-up and they really came through and helped us out. The tour guide was good too. But wow, Dali's house is the most ugly and unimpressive thing I've ever seen. His artistic nature didn't really translate into the property as much as I'd expected, and to be honest it's mostly just a lot of... trash. And bad taxidermy. The garden is nice, for the trees and plants. And the wife's dome room is interesting. So, there's that. Anyway, don't feel bad if you miss this on your trip 😅

Had to see the works donated by a son of the soil. No wonder he loved his hometown so much; it’s beautiful here!

Nice exposition, small enough for kids, big enough to learn interesting details of soulages’s life and art

Beautiful museum and stunning permanent exhibition. The audio guide that costs 4 euros is woefully inadequate. Whilst the information is good, it is really difficult to follow as the displays are not in an obvious order so not easy to follow the works chronologically. Also out of date and the commentary speaks of M. Soulage in the present tense.

One of the most beautiful museums I have seen. The architecture has an exceptional harmony with the pictures of Soulages!!!

Impressive building. Very black art. But it touched me

Amazing museum, very unique. The art is really spectacular, especially the etchings and the "outrenoir" pieces when viewed from different angles. The explanatory texts are easy to understand, give sufficient detail to appreciate Pierre Soulages' techniques and the progression in his art. The room dedicated to his stained glass windows made for the Abbey in Conques is particularly fascinating. Highly recommended!

A must see Museum if you are in Rodez and like contemporary art. Pierre Soulages has lately designed the glass for St Faiths Abbey in Conques-en-Rouergue. So you can see how he designed them and then visit to see them in place.

We had a fantastic time at the Réserve Africaine de Sigean! The whole experience was very well organized and thoughtfully designed, giving us the feeling of being on a real African safari. Driving through the park in our own car was a big highlight – not only did it bring us up close to the animals in a unique and exciting way, but it was also a huge advantage with the 35°C heat. Being able to enjoy the experience comfortably from the car made a big difference, especially with kids. The staff were friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about the animals and their well-being. You can tell the reserve is run with care and professionalism. We truly enjoyed every part of the visit – from the drive-through safari to the walking areas. A perfect mix of adventure, education, and comfort. Highly recommended for families and nature lovers!

A very nice safari parc with a great variety of African wildlife. At some point I almost felt like being on a safari drive. The zoo part is quite small compared to other zoos but has some pretty cool features. I really liked the aviary concept with free roaming birds, sharing their space with alligators. Amazing.

We loved it here, we saw so many animals. They have everything from big five to birds and reptiles.

It was a really great experience, drive through the different parts of the Réserve Africaine and see a little of animals that you normally only can see in a normal zoo. After the tour with the car, you also have a different way where you can walk and see many animals. The food at the kiosk is pretty good. At the entrance we had to wait a bit, because they need to check the trunk before you enter and then you can buy the tickets easily at the entrance. To be honest I didn’t see a line where you could enter if you bought your tickets beforehand. Definitely a good thing you can do is to download the corresponding app. There you can easily check where you are and you get all the needed information from the app as well.

That’s a huge park with very respectful and friendly way of treating animals. There is enough space for them as I can see. It doesn’t feel like a zoo. It’s more a window to a wildlife sanctuary. Even in winter you can find a restaurant to have some food. Meanwhile the infrastructure is really nice and well planned. There are parking, rest rooms, shops - everything that you may need after a long trip to this place. For sure this experience is worth it.

A different experience of African wildlife. Make sure to buy tickets online for a flawless entry. First a tour through different park themes with your car, followed by a walking tour. Rich variety of animals in an enormous park, divided in different themes. Great to enjoy with family and children. A must when you’re in the neighborhood.

Very beautiful place to see the animals. We love flamingo and there are hundreds of flamingos here, with lots of other animals also. Such a great experience while driving among savage horses/ lions/ bears, etc. Love the trip so muchhhh !!!

If you're interested in surrealism, a visit to the Dalí Museum in Figueres is a must. I've been there before, ages ago. But I enjoyed it this time even more. I guess there is no doubt about the greatness of Dalí's extraordinary and astonishing work. We ordered the tickets online before. It's recommended. We parked right at the Museum in a parking garage (payed 3,30 € per hour). My son is disabled so he didn't had to pay the entry fee. We booked it in advance and it was no problem with a german severely disabled certificate at the entrance of the museum. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Will visit again next time I will be in Catalonia.

Fantastic place! Got a fast pass skip the line ticket and got in right away, definitely recommend doing this, as even in off season it was suuuuper busy. The art and architecture is amazing. Lots of different rooms and areas to view and take in all the imagery. There are a few spaces to sit down, but could do with some more chairs around though, especially at it takes a few hours to really take everything in and visit all the rooms. In terms of accessibility, best to check with the venue itself to ensure it’s suitable for you. Some ramps are very steep and stairs are quite spiralling. Not sure how many tour groups are allowed in at each time slot but there were so many at the time I went and they rush and push through quickly through the narrow hallways, so be aware of this as well. Really fun day, nice walk through town to get there and lots of places to grab a drink, snack or coffee before or after your visit.

Paintings, drawings and ’flat’ art very good, sculptures and other works less interesting to me. Entry tickets are timed so buy when you arrive then join the line. There is no signage to give a structured tour of the museum, so you have to wander around and make sure you don’t miss anything. Too crowded, people always in front of you, pushing phones in front of you and snapping away, or standing posing. In those situations it’s hard to take in and appreciate what you’re seeing.

This museum takes you on a trip- a wonderful exploration into Dalís world and life. It's a very special place, created with so much heart and soul. Something everybody should experience. We've been there on a sunday in october, without reservations and got tickets without waiting. The rooms and floors inside are a bit smaller, so it was a little busy, but nevertheless, it was enough space to enjoy everything. There's a lot to discover, and watching every painting and installation closely you could easily spend the whole day there. But you can also see everything in about 1 or 2 hours. An unforgettable experience. Gaudeix :)

A must-see museum if you love Dali’s work. Even though it was busy, I still enjoyed taking my time and appreciating the artwork and sculptures. Get your tickets online in advance and be prepared to be mind-blown!

A place you must visit and see. Art enriches your consciousness and gives you the opportunity to be a better person. I recommend it. An extraordinary place where art and everyday life are clearly visible. It's wonderful that Spaniards care so much about their heritage.

The Dali Museum was the highlight of our time in eastern Spain! Since we visited in November, the museum was not packed with visitors. To see Dali’s work up close was magical! This is a “must see” when visiting Spain!

This is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the southern French gothic style I have ever visited. The outside is very imposing but the inside is crammed with beautiful artwork. It’s said that it is the largest building constructed out of bricks. Close to the building is a beautiful garden and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.

What can you say about this most imposing yet beautiful of cathedrals? The plain Tolosian pink brick exterior - built as a fortress to intimidate the Cathar supporters - belies the intricate beauty inside where every surface is decorated to a point that you have to just sit down to try and take it all in. And that is what you can do - it is free to enter the eastern half of the cathedral. The western half - similarly decorated but less busy, and one for the fans of impressive sculptures of the time, is a small fee, and also contains the treasures on an upper floor. Not necessary to enjoy the cathedral, but if you like completeness. The choir is stunning though, and reminiscent of York Minster, but taken up a notch. The only hint of this on the outside is the main entrance, whose portico feels like a mini cathedral in itself. If Notre Dame had fallen down before Victor Hugo built it up again, then Quasimodo would have felt very at home here, at least the Disney version anyway… Finally, we have to mention the organ - one of the biggest in France and uniquely decorated with the queues for Heaven and Hell. Very Dutch in form, and something to marvel at. I’m a big fan of European cathedrals, and Albi is in my top three. Not to be missed, if you are at least within 100km of it. The authentic winding streets and high views over the river as you make your way there add to the visual drama.

Truly magnificent and spectacular church with incredible art and massive fort like structure on the outside that bellies the intricate details artful details on the inside. I didn't pay to see the other half of it but didn't think it was necessary to get a great experience. Must visit if you are around Toulouse.

Free entry to the impressive Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, the largest brick cathedral in the world, has the feel of a fortress. • 113m long, 35m wide and 30m under the vault •  a 78m high bell tower completed in 1480. • 1282/1493: it took 200 years to build It is also the largest fully painted cathedral in Europe, with 18,500 m² of frescoes and decorations.

The almost complete painting of this large Gothic building is unique, magnificent, and impressive. A must-see, and not just for art historians. And very easy to visit: there's a large parking lot below the hill, and admission is free. Sit in the choir stalls and stay for a while.

Truely magnificent! This is the largest brick cathedral in the world and fully painted inside. The frescoes are amazing, worth the visit to this beautiful town albi

Excellent visit, well worth the 6€ for the audio guide. A remarkably well preserved church and surrounding area. The toulouse lautrec museumjust besides. A beautiful place to lookat while you take a consommation in one of the bars at the edge of the square.

We spent a couple of days here and found it absolutely amazing. Lots to do and see. Shops and restaurants in abundance. The evening walk on the ramparts along with the light show was amazing

Very good tour through the castle with a great walk on the walls of Carcassonne. We spent here about 2 hours. The price was 19€ per person without an audio guide. But there were plenty of explanations written in English so for us no guide was totally fine.

Legendary & Epic Castle This is by far my favourite castle in France. I visited a lot but this one is special. What I like is the fact it is Medieval and so well preserved. It is very grand too. One of the largest around the world. You can feel the middle ages here and really appreciate what it must have been like to live in those days. Highly recommended to visit.

Perfect on a sunny day..... A visit to the Medieval City is not complete, without doing the walk along the ramparts/walls and visiting the museum/castle. It is well worth the cost. We went early 0930, opening time, to beat the crowds, we actually had the walls to ourselves for the first 30 minute, we took our time, and totally enjoyed the experience.

Carcassonne and its castle are must-see sites if you're visiting Occitania in southern France. The day we were there, the place was swarming with tourists from all over the place, and with good reason, because there's so much rich history there. I heard French, Spanish, Catalan, German, English — visitors from many places. Touring the castle is synonymous with touring the city, since you can enter the city through the castle gates and walk around the winding lanes full of restaurants with outside seating, shops selling souvenirs and tourist items, etc. Every other restaurant signboard advertises cassoulet, a local specialty. If you're touring the castle and Carcassonne, I highly recommend also stepping into the basilica, whose stained-glass windows are a marvel to behold. Rich blues, reds, yellows, a fairyland of vibrant colors….

Not a usual Cheateau it’s way more than that . It’s a vibrant town with full of shops ,restaurants ,bar and hotels . You can lost yourself inside the small streets with tonnes of things to see . Easy access car park next to it for your convenience. Do not miss this place if you Around Carcassonne.

Unique in its kind, the Cité de Carcassonne is a fine example of medieval military architecture. It is not only one of the largest fortified cities in Europe, but also the largest medieval complex on the continent, and arguably one of the best preserved. The stones that make up the Cité tell us the history of the place. A rich and complex history spanning several centuries, from the Gallo-Roman period (from the 3rd century BC) to the 19th century. Strolling through the citadel and standing on its ramparts is like contemplating 2,500 years of history. At the heart of the medieval city of Carcassonne, the Château Comtal was built in the western part of the Cité, the highest and therefore best protected. On this side, the city overlooks the Aude River, making it difficult to access and thus serving as a protective feature. Today, consisting of a stately palace separating two courtyards, the castle dominates the Lower Town, protected by 11 towers, including two keeps. The main entrance is guarded by twin towers forming a gatehouse with elaborate defensive systems. The Watchtower, in the South Courtyard, is the castle's tallest. It is one of the city's few square towers. Constantly modified over time, the count's castle was enlarged in the 12th century by the Trencavels, Viscounts of Carcassonne. A primitive castle already stood on this site. The construction of this new palace, begun around 1130, took place in a very unique context. The establishment of the feudal system led to the division of the territory and the decentralization of power: vast territorial areas were placed under the responsibility of lords, tasked with administering the various regions on behalf of the Carolingian kingdom. While these families owed loyalty to the king, they were increasingly powerful and independent. In Carcassonne, the Trencavel dynasty managed to establish its dominance and ensured the management of the viscounty. This was an important family, composed of fierce warriors and great builders. The city was, however, threatened by the presence of two powerful neighbors, the Counts of Toulouse and Barcelona, ​​who were fighting over the South of France. The Viscounts of Carcassonne, allying themselves with one, sometimes with the other, managed to reconcile these two powers. This was a prosperous period, which allowed for the development of trade and the urban expansion of the city. After the construction of the Saint-Nazaire basilica, the castle, which housed the seigneurial power, was fortified and enlarged. From the 11th century onwards, it was an important living space, including a great hall, kitchens, stables and a keep. It is the only room in the count's castle to have retained its medieval appearance; the walls of the state room are still decorated with the original paintings. Made with semi-precious stones, they represent epic scenes that tell of the power of the Lords during the Crusades. Later, in the 12th century, the castle also housed a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was destroyed during the Revolution (with the exception of its apse, which is still visible). Today, little remains of the castle from this period, which then consisted of two buildings forming an L and dominated by a watchtower. The castle was then separated from the rest of the city by a simple palisade.

An absolute highlight. The castle town is like in every childrenbook. Wouldn't be surprised, if a dragon arrives🙂. It is really like in a tale. All the towers with the roofs and the big large walls. A walk along the wall is more than 3km and take about 1 hour. Its included in the castle entrance. The cite can be freely visited all time. The castle is separate and has normal ooening hours. Entrance is 19€. But its worth it. You get a lot infos on boards with drawings about defense systems and reconstruction of the site. The cite is full of shops, bars and restaurants.An cathedral can also be visited. I recommand 2 visits. One fir castle and wall. Other in the evening for diner.

This is an amazing place to visit, lots to see. I would encourage anyone going to visit the castle and get the audio guide. So much information to listen to, both in the castle and and as you walk the walls. It really explains the history and development of the place. There's far less info on the few signs dotted about. Lots of places to eat and buy souveineers in the city and so many things to photograph.

The full fairytale experience....... As we we crossed the lovely old bridge from the lower town, we got our first glimpse of the walls of the medieval city, the walk up is quite enjoyable, passing a streets full of eateries enticing passer-by's with the local favourite.........., it is easy to spend a whole day within the walls, starting with a guided tower, visiting the basilica and learning all about the the history with enjoyable stories, next is the not missed, walking the walls/ramparts, a visit to the Medieval camp, is fun, just not for the kids, there are many restaurants, however our go to is the cite boulangerie, the bread is divine and there are many treated to be tempted with to finish the day, just walking the cobblestone streets, watching the kids with there sword and shield, wearing a helmet walking the streets sourced from the many souvenir shops. all in all a wonderful experience.

A really cool place to visit in the fall when the tourists are gone. I walked around at my leisure then took the Privilege tour which takes us in basements and other restricted areas to learn more about the history of the place. It was worth it. The only mild disappointment was the restaurants. I nearly cried when I realized that I can make a better cassoulet than what I had been served. I love cassoulet and was hoping to have an out of body experience in the birthplace of this dish. It was ok but not mind-blowing... If you like jogging, there's a nice trail around the walls where I enjoyed gorgeous views. In shoer, great place to visit but eat in town if you want to experience gastronomy.

The best medieval city ever. It's a must place to visit. You'll not be disappointed. Worth the entrance fee into the castle. There's plenty of parking too

Absolutely stunning. Loved our visit here. Paying the extra €13 to walk the remparts/walls is absolutely worthwhile. One of the best places that I've ever been to.

Wonderful"village" inside the walls, free to enter, not too busy and very historic, full of food outlets, and seemed to be reasonably priced. Beware if cycling up and leaving bikes outside, we parked and there was a cut lock on the cycle stand, when we came back another couple returned and they had had their bikes stolen, seemingly a few minutes before we arrived, so ensure you have a very secure lock.

Simply fantastic! Easy to park (no charge), very easy to purchase tickets at a machine, queue short and undercover, audio guide straightforward and lifts if you want them. And as for the cave network - just amazing. You see so much and then into the boats - very atmospheric and onto yet more stunning sights. You will not be disappointed! We visited mid-September and no need to book ahead but certainly would for July and August. Highly recommend!

Great experience. Very well organised and very informative. Lots of steps but there is the option of a lift. Boat ride along the underground stream is great. Wear a raincoat as there is some dripping water although a lot of effort has been made to minimise this.

Had been waiting to go here for a while and so glad I did. It's a bit of a windy drive to get there, and parking is pretty chaotic, but it's definitely worth the effort. A whole underground world awaits you: A giant chasm; a lovely boat trip along a subterranean river; waterfalls, lakes, enormous stalactites; and a section that opens up to reveal a chamber with a 90m high ceiling. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the infrastructure is exceptional there. Tips: Book tickets in advance. We went on a cold, rainy day in October and were surprised to see how busy it was. Parking is free, but a bit of a hunt was necessary. It's a steady 13 degrees in there, so warm, waterproof clothing & shoes required. Also, use the toilets before you enter as there are none in there! Have fun!

Simply magnificent. The caves are very beautiful with many fantastic photo opportunities. Buy your tickets in advance so that you won't be disappointed. Free parking is available but limited but the paid parking lot is inexpensive.

An absolute must-visit attraction if you are in the Dordogne region. It was an hour and a half of pure fun and adventure that was well worth the price. The way this attraction is structured is very well-organized and I appreciate how accessible it is for all kinds of people. The cave formations are stunning and grand and must be seen to believe. I was not expecting the sheer scale of this cave and was blown away. Furthermore, the staff were great and my boat guide in particular was very friendly and willing to answer any questions I had about the cave. Highly, highly recommend visiting this place.

Incredible. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit particularly the boat ride even deeper into the cave. This place is vast and totally mind blowing!!! A lot of steps (but there is a lift if you need it).

Fantastic place to visit and see ancient history/geography in a brilliant setting.. lifts and stairs to lower caves but don't get stuck behind people who are incapacitated and should be using the lift other wise add another ½hour or more onto your journey.. staff very friendly and have the organizing down to a T..

Beautiful religious place. It does get very crowded however. Still the scenery is beautiful and the energy holds something special.

An amazing Pilgrimage Church built against a cliff, which resides the famous Black Madonna. From here you can also follow the stations of the cross too the summit of the hill.

Worth probably the visit once in your life during off peak hours to avoid the crowds side of the site, though you have to pay for everything : parking, entrance, lift etc ... and what about these shops and so-called restaurants ? Nothing to do with faith or pilgrimage

Absolute stunning attraction. Visited a few view points and the interior is stunning and awesome. Shops are interesting too. Took a train ride from the bottom to the top. It's very squeeze for the vehicles but all in all, it's worth it. Have an ice cream before you leave.

Such a stunning place. The buildings are all built into the cliffs. There is a lift or stairs to take you up there. I believe the lift cost 2euros one way but I'm not 100% sure.

This place has his own aura. It's impressive when you look up and see the castle on the top of the "hill". And when you take a look to the overall, it seems like a place took from a fairy tale. It has an elevator to move to the top or the bottom, but it cost around 4€. Even so, I recommend walking to discover all the smalls secrets hidden in this place

Last year, when I walk GR65 from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port I have, accidentally, visit this unbelievable graceful place. I'm Catholic priest so I put attention to the quietness and peacefulness of particular place of prayer. I can say that the calmness and quietness of this place estonished me. Of course I'm not talking about "upper" church but about chapel underneath the place of tourists. I highly recommend this place for everyone who is seeking for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother Immaculate Mary. God bless everyone+

I was truly speechless when I saw this nearly 700-year-old bridge. Its history and architectural beauty are simply breathtaking. We took our time walking around it to admire it from every angle, appreciating the stunning bridge.

This bridge is absolutely beautiful and amazing to see how high this is too. Also encountered a very friendly cat. It’s all free to visit and there are free parking spaces about 5 minute walk away.

Take your time to look at more than the bridge, the museum is well worth a visit and it's well worth looking around. It would be good walking country, but not in the heat.

I loved my walk and visit to this lovely medieval stone Bridge with its nice views down the river and the surrounding hillsides. Its very close to the town and has plenty of walking path from either side of the river Lot. The bridge is in great condition and well maintained. Highly recommend.

Just incredible and so well preserved! I recommend you visit this place after sunset to appreciate it when all lit up and reflecting on the water below!

Absolutely beautiful bridge, stunning views from it either side and free to visit. Highly recommend

Aire in the the town only has 3 bays, suitable for small vans. Large car park ,about 15 mins walk to bridge. Can stay overnight but very basic and shared with cars.

An ABSOLUTELY impressive multi faceted immersive experience!! Not to be missed! The whole castle from room to room offered museum quality examples of weapons armour. A few areas had repeating audiovisual stories about construction of siege equipment, and how to make armour. One area was a theatre. There was a live blacksmith , a person who explained and fired a trebuchet. Another explained weapons use and gave kids some basic sword training using props. Probably the best EVER historic site I’ve been to !! Well worth the money and drive to see!!

Very beautiful castle, especially recommended for a visit with children! In the various exhibition rooms, in addition to the elements on display, there were also small Playmobil exhibitions, so that the children could also enjoy the visit! The castle itself is beautiful, really well preserved and offers phenomenal views of the valley and river in the area. At the end of the visit (small signs help you to navigate everything, even without a guide) you will find a small tower room for children with books about castles, knights and the like, as well as Playmobil toys, where the children can play and read! Really amazing, the kids loved it! The children also loved the costumes that were available in an exhibition room. You could choose something from a range of medieval clothing and then sit on a throne provided and take your photo (free of charge, but you take the photos yourself, of course). A wonderful idea! I would definitely recommend a visit for families, but without a stroller, as you can leave one in a designated area in front of the castle. The only thing I didn't like so much, and that's not the castle's fault, was that in winter only one restaurant was open, the one right next to the castle, and unfortunately they weren't good and a bit expensive for what you get. Otherwise, highly recommended!

A rewarding view and experience for a slightly hard uphill hike. Can drive up, but part of the experience is the walk up! The restaurants around the top are really terrible so I'd suggest either bringing a picnic or going back down to eat.

Very nicely renovated castle, put into a very good state. The self walking tour is fun. Amazing views of the river valley as well.

To me, this is a castle and not a chateau. Therefore don't expect fancy furniture and artwork. However, if you like your medieval weapons, then this is a good place to visit.

Beautiful setting for a castle and well worth the trip,theres some shop's at the site and restaurants will go back again

An excellent castle to view middle ages weapons,and the views are great

It is a nice and clean church, both the exterior and interior are beautiful, it was a pleasure to visit this church during a day trip to Toulouse and a walk around the city center. When we entered the church, young girls and boys were singing religious songs and a good spiritual atmosphere was created. The church was relatively quiet and had the necessary peace. I personally felt very good and I hope you will also have a good experience visiting this church.

The basilica is one of the largest Romanesque-style churches in Europe and a major landmark of Toulouse. Construction began around 1080 and continued through the 13th century. The building reflects a pure Romanesque design with later Gothic additions, combining red brick with pale stone. Its most iconic feature is the 64-meter octagonal bell tower, a defining element of the city’s skyline.

This is a truly mind blowing cathedral. It is the largest remaining Romanesque church in the world. Its soaring barrel voltage ceiling gives a sense of space and majesty. There are wonderful statues and some incredible fresco paintings which have survived hundreds of years. I must see when in this city.

Beautiful architecture. We were lucky that there was a wedding ceremony when we entered so we got to hear the organ play live which was amazing. The entrance is free. Highly recommend a visit.

A more grandiose cathedral, visible from many parts of the city because of the distinctive tower. The access was limited when we visited because there was a service on.

Mast seen Landmark of Christian medieval architecture. Free entrance. Take your time to visit and discover all parts of basilica.

Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Toulouse. It is free to enter for all.