Carcassonne:Famous for its role in the Albigensian Crusades, the city was a stronghold of the Cathar people. Its construction is a concentric design of two outer walls with defensive towers. It was built to withstand an attack by siege engines. Visiting this fabulous UNESCO world heritage site will take you back to the Middle Ages; back to the era of pilgrims, Templar knights, and crusaders.

We'll walk around & visit this impressive fortified medieval city. You'll see the defensive walls and ramparts that surround the city and learn about the Cathar people as well as their tragic history.

Optional - (Admission fee not included): visit the Castle and museum inside the fortified medieval city - this allows you access to walk along the ramparts.

Next we'll drive through the village of Lastours, and then stop at a scenic overlook - the Belvedere - across from the Lastours castle formation. There is a small admission fee to access the Belvedere” where you can take photos of these four Cathar castle ruins.

After Lastours we drive to Albi.

Here you may visit the marvelous Toulouse-Lautrec museum and learn about this famous painter's life in Albi.

Next to the museum sits the largest red-brick cathedral in the world - built after the Cathar people were savagely vanquished during the Albigensian Crusades… I'll tell you the story while we drive through the beautiful Languedoc countryside.