Carcassonne!

The citadel of Carcassonne is an incredible fortified, medieval city, strategically located between the Atlantic & Mediterranean and in the corridor between Spain/Portugal and the rest of Europe. Peter poo pooed it, because the ramparts and turrets have been totally restored. I thought it was beautiful! I really appreciate visiting ruins and vestiges of our past, but I was very happy to see how as it was more or less intended in the 13^th c., with all its impressive turrets, murder holes, and double row of defensive walls (lices is the word for the space between the inner & outer ramparts, which made it easy to defend. These spaces were also used for jousting and crossbow practice). There was a lovely cathedral with cool (newer) gargoyles and beautiful, original stained glass.