Europe is home to beautifully preserved castles and walled cities that history and architecture enthusiasts will love to visit. When you're in France next, you must check out the medieval town of Carcassonne in south-west France, a truly awe-inspiring destination straight out of a period drama.
There is another reason to add this place to your France bucket list. Visitors to the walled hilltop citadel of Carcassonne can now walk the entire 1.3km circuit along the upper ramparts for the first time in centuries. The route was opened on September 12 to the public. This achievement is the result of a 31-month, €5.6m restoration project by the national heritage agency, the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. The Carcassone ramparts in France have never been fully accessible to the public due to safety concerns over the old walls. Incidentally, Carcassonne is believed to have been a major inspiration for the castle in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty.