What's on in Carcassonne, France through the year

Peak crowds — Magie de Noel, Christmas holidays in France

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Magie de Noel (28 Nov – 3 Jan (usually))

Busy — Winter (February) holidays in France, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Winter (February) holidays in France

• Season

  Canal du Midi boating season

  25 Mar – 5 Nov · usuallySummer season opens

  Hire boats work the canal through the town from the end of March to the start of November; the locks come out of service for maintenance over the winter. The towpath walks all year.

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Busy — Festival de Carcassonne, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Festival de Carcassonne

  26 Jun – 31 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Five weeks of concerts in the Theatre Jean-Deschamps inside the walls and in the castle courtyard, with about a hundred free shows alongside the ticketed ones running into late August. Source ↗

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Festival de Carcassonne, Embrasement de la Cite

• Hazard

  Heatwave weeks

  1 Jul – 25 Aug · usuallyExtreme heat

  The Aude valley takes the worst of the southern summer, and the walled city has almost no shade in it. Walk the ramparts before ten; Meteo-France runs the department warnings. Source ↗

• Festival

  Embrasement de la Cite

  14 JulMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  At half past ten on 14 July the lights go out and the ramparts appear to burn, for about twenty-five minutes. Several hundred thousand people watch it; the bridges and the approach roads shut hours before. Source ↗

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually)), Festival de Carcassonne (26 Jun – 31 Jul (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually)), Heatwave weeks (1 Jul – 25 Aug (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Magie de Noel, All Saints (autumn) holidays in France

• Festival

  Magie de Noel

  28 Nov – 3 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Chalets and a rink go up in the lower town around the Place Carnot from the end of November, and the walled city is lit and largely empty, which is the better half of the deal. Source ↗

Still on: Canal du Midi boating season (25 Mar – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Magie de Noel, Christmas holidays in France

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Magie de Noel (28 Nov – 3 Jan (usually))