In summer, the city surpasses itself in showing off its 2,000-year-old setting to full advantage by staging a historical and cultural programme with accompanying pyrotechnics, which takes place from June to September (the Festival of Languedoc-Roussillon, Medievales, and the fireworks on July 14th).

Some places to visit in the region include:  

• The Cathedral Saint-Michel: built in the XIV century in a Languedocien Gothic style. 
• The Old Bridge: constructed in the XIV century, this was until the XIX century the only link between the Cité and the Ville Basse.
• The Museum of Hats: in the medieval city, you can admire hats from the Middle Ages to today. You can also buy hats made in the Aude region.
• Museum of the Middle Ages: discover in both video and "Son et Lumière" model form, those lesser-known aspects of past life and military techniques.
• The hawks of Carcassonne: the largest hawks in the world fly freely around the town centre.
• Inquisition Museum: torture instruments from all parts of Europe are displayed, with information in six languages.
• The Château Comtal: built in the XII century by the Trencavels, Vicomtes of Carcassonne.