Built on a tall hill adjacent to the Aude River, La Cite was originally a pre-roman settlement and then a fortified village. In turn it was occupied by Gauls, Romans, and Visigoths and was of military significant during a series of historic conflicts including the Albgensian Crusade, wars between France and the Crown of Aragorn, and the 100 Years War. It lost military significance after the Treaty of the Pyrennes fixed the French/Spanish border and eventually neglected, it was slated for destruction in 1849. Local leaders advocated and won the support of the government in Paris to restore the Cite and in 1853 architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was assigned to oversee renovations of the fortress. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in southern France.
Learn more by clicking on these links
https://www.tourisme-carcassonne.fr/decouvrir/la-cite-medievale