My Stay in a Haunted Airbnb in Carcassonne France
Updated: 4 days ago
I travel. With intent. With purpose. For growth. Not all of my travel is for the paranormal. My visit to Carcassonne France was initially to satisfy my love of all things medieval. But between my two stays in Carcassonne France, my love of history and the paranormal would converge here. I have traveled to Europe three separate times, and I love Carcassonne so much I have stayed there twice! Here is my experience staying in Carcassonne, the history of this location that may be fueling paranormal activity, my encounters with a spirit haunting my Airbnb in a French community that hosts a fortress straight out of a fairytale. Read on for my strange encounter and visit. Thank you for reading! ~Dez
Carcassonne by Train
I arrived via train for both of my visits. My first visit, I arrived from Marseille France directly. My second visit, I arrived from Barcelona Spain with one exchange in Narbonne, France. The nearest airport is located in Toulouse about a 1-hour direct train ride to the West of Carcassonne. I will note that both occasions this particular track had issues and there were delays when I traveled to Toulouse, France.
Tip for Train Travel from Carcassonne north to Toulouse. Please tack on at least an extra 2 hours to get to where you need to go if you have a hard arrival time. You can hire taxi's that may be on the costly side if you wish to avoid train travel. I love trains so that tends to be my go-to travel choice.
My walk from the Carcassonne train station was an easy 10 minutes to my Airbnb located in the lower town-located just outside the Medieval walls of the fortress. When exiting the train station, the walk will take you through the "new" Carcassonne City where you can find several grocery stores, bakeries, and a small but fun town center square. Both of my visits were during Christmas, so the town square was bursting at the seams with a Christmas Market and Ice-Skating Rink!
During my walk, I also traversed another Christmas town square with more vendors, Christmas lights and decorations. After that, I made sure to head to the Pont Vieux bridge, a historic Medieval bridge with a small chapel located at the base of its entrance. This bridge that passes over the Aude River is the perfect vantage point in Carcassonne for picture taking and offers a view that lets visitors take in the expansive structure that is the medieval Carcassonne fortress that houses the Carcassonne Cite', the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Chateaux (castle) Comtal (count).
On my way to my Airbnb, I pass by a family-owned mini store with the basic foods such as crescents, baguettes, meats, vegetables, and cheeses before taking a left down a short street to my Airbnb.
My Airbnb has a great view of the fortress lit up in yellow lights at night-which is why I initially chose it. And my Airbnb held more than just great accommodations with a view, but a haunting as well. But before we get into my experiences, let's speak about why Carcassonne's history may be fueling a profound haunting.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1997, La Cité de Carcassonne was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical and architectural significance. The fortress as seen today is largely the work of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, a 19th-century architect who restored it based on his interpretation of medieval architecture. Some purists argue that his additions, such as pointed roofs on towers, were not historically accurate. None the less, I am appreciating of the attempt to secure the site for the generations to follow.
Carcassonne is home to its citadel, Cite' de Carcassonne, a remarkably well-preserved medieval fortress with 53 watchtowers and double-layered walls that stretch nearly 3 kilometers. This fortress dates back to the Gallo-Roman period.
Access to fortress and medieval town, the Cite' is free. Since, my Airbnb was located between the Aude Gate and the Aude River, this was the entrance I primarily used. To get to the Aude gate, you will have to walk up a ramp constructed from uneven cobblestone. On the opposite side of the fortification, is the Narbonnaise Gate with its historical ramparts and gated entrance that is so eye catching, I recommend entering here if possible, at least once during your stay.
In the center of the Medieval City of Carcassonne, there is a wonderful and educational Camp with an assortment of tents housing artifacts used in centuries past. Both of my visits were in the off season and the tradeoff for less crowds are that some of the tours and events were not taking place. However, I was lucky enough to stumble across the camp still in operation with actors speaking on their historical subjects from what life was like to the tools of the trade.
My favorite part during my numerous visits was walking the ramparts alone at night. With the golden lighting leaving deep shadows where anything could be lurking, it looks like something straight out of a gothic vampire movie or an enchanting fantasy. It makes perfect sense that with the fascinating medieval architecture that the intriguing legends of Carcassonne would surely follow.
The Legends of Carcassonne
The city's name is linked to a local legend and historically inaccurate tale about the Saracen ruler Dame Carcas, during the wars between Christians and Muslims in southwest Europe, who tricked Charlemagne’s Franks army into believing the city had plentiful food by throwing a fat pig over the walls. Thinking the city was well-stocked, the army lifted the siege.
In the 8th century, the city was besieged by the Franks led by Charlemagne. The siege was causing those behind the fortification to starve. The Dame Carcas, widow of the lord of Carcassonne, fed the city's last pig the last of its store of wheat and threw the pig over the city walls. When the Saracens witnessed this waste of precious food, they assumed the stores of the fortress were too vast for the siege to be a success and abandoned their campaign.
Lady Carcas daring lie led to a victory to which the bells were ordered to ring out throughout the fortification. A soldier shouted " Carcas sonne" meaning "Carcous rings" in French and the city was named Carcassonne in her honor.
However inaccurate the story may be historically, Charlemagne never sieged Carcassonne as he would only have been 17 at the time and was already ruled by his father Pepin after defeating the Saracens in 759, through the centuries this tale still rings with the spirit of this location. One of resilience, creativity, and violent storms of political maneuverings that would find Carcassonne laid siege to many times through its 3000-year rich history. So let's explore the history of Carcassonne and see the origins of how a haunting might be unfolding here.
The History Fuels the Hauntings
With its long history of battles, sieges, and the Inquisition, Carcassonne has its share of ghost stories. Some claim to see phantom knights patrolling the walls or hear the echoes of ancient battles at night-perhaps the combination Saracens, Visigoths, Medieval French Soldiers that fought and lost their lives here.
Carcassonne was a fortified hilltop by the Romans in 100 B.C. Power transferred to a Visigoth King, Theodoric II in A.D. 453 Theodoric continue expansion with more fortifications some of which still can be found today. Next came the Arab and Berber Muslims to reign over this area in A.D. 720. They were then defeated by the Franks in A.D. 759. In 1067, Raimond-Bernard Trencavel, through marriage, became the owner and overseer of Carcassonne.
The Trencavel family is responsible for some of the more notable structures in the Cite' and Fortress including the Chateau Comtal and the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus.
Carcassonne was a stronghold of the Cathars, a Christian sect deemed heretical by the Catholic Church. In 1209, the city fell to the Albigensian Crusade, leading to the mass slaughter of its inhabitants. During the eradication of the perceived heretical practitioners in the year of 1209, the Trencavel family would lose their hold on Carcassonne and Raymond-Roger de Trencavel was imprisoned and died under tragic and mysterious circumstance. The void of authority in Carcassonne during this Albigensian Crusade would be filled by Simon de Montfort who would add more fortifications.
Eventually, Carcassonne and its fortress would fall under the reign of the French Aragon Crown and would lay witness to many battles during the Hundred Years' War and even Edward the Black Prince would fail possess the city, but he did leave in his wake destruction to the fortress that would leave the fortress without its lower town. The location where I would find myself staying during my two visits to Carcassonne.
Is my paranormal experience directly correlated to this destruction? Read on to find out more about my ghostly encounter during my stays in the lower town of Carcassonne.
My Carcassonne Haunting
One of the theories that parapsychologists operate on is that tragic deaths lead to supernatural events like hauntings. After reading upon the Carcassonne tragedies that battles leave in their wake, it makes sense that spirit and the corresponding paranormal activity may unfold in the Cite' of Carcassonne, the fortress, and the housing beyond its walls.
I spent many nights walking the battlements of the fortress. During those treks, I would feel eyes on me and was weary of a presence beyond the few guests walking about at night. Because my stay was during Christmas, the town and castle at times felt completely disserted with not another living soul to be observed during my walks. Considering that Carcassonne is a huge tourist attraction, the peak seasons unfolding during the summer months, my travels to Carcassonne were well timed to avoid the large crowds. This absence of tourists made me feel like I was the only person walking the embankments and cobblestone streets into the dark hours of the night.
I did have some curious experiences including a shadow figure in one of the inner wall's towers. Some strange lights and orbs as well. But it was the witnessing of not one but two apparitions in my Airbnb that had me believing that not everyone in Carcassonne's embattled Cite's past has moved on.
My First Stay-December 2023
I picked my Airbnb for the view. Plain and simple. The view of the fortress lay just beyond my dining room window, and I was no more than a 5-minute stroll from the Aude Gate of the Cite'. Not one single review that I read about my Airbnb stay eluded to the presence of the supernatural. This makes sense if you know anything about French culture. This is a culture of people that lean toward the pragmatic. Their devotion to religion- for the majority of theological practitioners- does not prescribe to spirits existing in our realm of life. So, I did not have one single inkling that I was renting a place that I believe is haunted.
It started on day one of my week stay. I was washing up a few dishes after dinner. The layout of my Airbnb apartment was that upon entering through the entrance door was a hallway. Across from the entryway was the door to the single master bedroom. If you take a right, on your right is the toilette and on the left is the bathroom. When continuing down the hall you pass a utility closet area on the right and then it opens into a living room and to the left is your kitchen and dining area.
I stood at the sink with my back to that large, multi-functional room. And while washing the dishes I felt someone rushing up behind me. I turn to look, and no one was there. Of course no one was there. That's how it always goes! :)
So, I shrugged off the unusual encounter to being in a strange, new location again. I am used to traveling from hotels to Airbnbs as I travel for months at a time through Europe. Your mind and body get accustomed to living in strange new locations and for a wanderer such as myself, the new locations and experiences is what I am seeking! I embrace the new places I visit and relish in the spontaneity of traveling.
During my 7-night stay, I would experience that "rushing up from behind" daily. Early on, I was sitting up in bed in the master bedroom. I had just hung up the phone and placed it on the nightstand after speaking to family. Movement at the foot of my bed caught my eye, and I turned to look. There at the foot of my bed was a being walking from left to right. Silently, he walked out the bedroom door. I got up and followed him down the hallway. Where he disappeared in the living room area about 3 feet from the windows that overlook the Carcassonne Cite' and Medieval walls.
After the encounter was over, I was so excited! Not scared. I got right back on the phone and called my sister who also ghost hunts with me and is my lead investigator on my organized Ghost Hunting Experiences with my tour company, Haunted Traverse Tours. I had just witnessed a full body apparition present himself to me for a span of approximately 10-15 seconds. Even though this was unexpected and an exciting paranormal encounter, I did not ghost hunt my Airbnb during that first stay.
I have some beliefs that sometimes-asking questions and purposely seeking contact with spirit can cause the activity to increase. Since this was not my home, I didn't feel that it was right to unfold an active investigation.
So, I enjoyed my stay during Christmas in Carcassonne, grateful that someone had wanted to make themselves known to me and that I shared Christmas in a beautiful location in southwest France with a spirit. After my stay in Carcassonne, my last leg of my 2-month trip in Europe was Paris and then my flight home stateside!
Travel Tip: I hopped on a train from Carcassonne to Toulouse which was an hour travel time (outside of the delays due to a track not working), then I hopped on a short flight to Paris Orly airport. From there, you can get a quick train into the heart of Paris. I opted to go visit Versailles which is just grabbing a connecting train from the airport to the Paris Metro's RER train to Versailles.
Bonus Travel Tip: Google Maps will be your friend. Indicate where you are and where you want to go. Google Maps pulls the train schedules and will give them in chronological order for you to choose from. From there, you just need to navigate purchasing the tickets. Which is easy to do. After selecting the best route/time for your needs, scroll all the way down through the travel information, you will see Agency Info. Click on Agency Info to purchase tickets through the supplier for that route. I tend to do as much as possible through my iPhone and electronically versus paper tickets.
My Second Stay-December 2024
My next visit to Carcassonne and the exact same Airbnb apartment was spur of the moment. When I travel in Europe, I usually do not like to replicate locations after all there is so much to see! But no matter where I looked throughout the continent, Estoria, Greece. Romania, and Germany, something kept telling me to go back to Carcassonne. So, I did. I booked the exact same Airbnb rental too!
To give you an idea of how my travels in Europe are organized... there not. Let me explain. I book my flight over to Europe (I prefer CDG in Paris for arrival and departure from Europe) and for my third trip to Europe, I booked my flight back. Outside of my schedule commitments during my travels for my tour company conference that I attend every year for my tour company- Haunted Traverse Tours- my itinerary is usually chosen as I go. At the beginning of December, while I was taking a multi-day Ireland tour with a tour company that designs tours in Ireland, I was trying to figure out where to stay for Christmas in Europe. And Carcassonne kept drawing me back to it.
I arrived in Carcassonne to again spend a week around Christmas. I walked into my rental and was greeted by silence. The same view of the Castle and fortification was right outside my window. I unpacked, shopped, cooked and waited.
Travel Tip: I flew from Naples Italy (I visited Pompeii) to Barcelona, then a fast train up to Narbonne France. Got off there then hopped on the train that connects to Carcassonne. I tend to use Ryanair while over in Europe. But if you do use this airline, pack lite! I always design my luggage around Ryanair's specs for overhead carryon luggage.
I shared my philosophy about actively ghost hunting and how I believe it can open up or heighten paranormal activity. After speaking with the owner, who relayed that no one had ever spoken about anything unusual happening at the rental location, I decided again not to actively ghost hunt my rental, but that does not mean passive tactics cannot be used.
During my stay, I left cameras left recording or an EMF reader left out and monitored with a camera. My first few nights though, I didn't even do this. Ireland's trip took a lot out of me, and I was dragging myself through my stay in Naples and Pompeii. When I arrived in Carcassonne, I had picked up some sort of cold virus that was not easy to recover from. Most of my Christmas week was spent surrounded by tissues, blankets, and soup.
The last thing on my mind was setting up the video cameras. It was my second night where I changed my mind. I was sleeping in the master bedroom again. The two window's curtains were drawn, and the streetlights were coming in-lighting up the room. I did this on purpose, because I was really uncomfortable from being sick and was up and down all night to the toilette, I was using the streetlights to guide my way to the toilette. I was also in the worst throes of my cold and was struggling to breath.
During a period of sleep, I shot up into a sitting position in bed. So quickly! If you could have seen it, picture Dracula sitting up in his coffin. That is how I did it- Dracula's style- only I have a pulse and no cravings for drinking other people's blood. Your welcome world!
So now that you can picture how I sat up out of a....errr...dead sleep, there I am wide awake sitting up in the bed. The room is well lit, and I am staring straight at a women standing at the foot of my bed. And then slowly from top to bottom she disappeared. I remember wondering in that moment why she was barefoot. The image that I still carry with me was her dress, her bare legs, and her bare feet. That is how clearly, she was in front of me.
She stood right next to a table/desk. So, I got up right away and grabbed my EMF reader and iPhone and recorded the EMF reader lighting up and stopping. Then lighting up again and stopping. And then the EMF reader stopped lighting up. Through the remainder of my stay, I could not replicate the EMF reader's activity from the night of that encounter.
Like my first stay, did the "rushing from behind" present during my second stay? No. But I was so uncomfortable staying in the bedroom lying flat on my back because of my cold, I moved out to a daybed that would let me sit up more during the night. While there, it felt like someone was pacing up and down the hallway. I continued to set up cameras in the bedroom as well as the hallway with no paranormal activity observed on film.
Sadly, outside of the EMF reader anomalous activity, no other activity including my two encounters, was recorded. But with two full body apparitions presenting to me and the EMF reader indicating EMFs I could not replicate for the remainder of my stay, I am confident that Carcassonne France is haunted, but by whom? Are my apparitions Saracens, Visigoth or Medieval French Soldiers? Perhaps one of the citizens caught in the crossfires that eradicated the lower city?
My next steps when I have time will be to try to dig through property records of my rental. I also felt drawn to a cemetery plot while visiting a Carcassonne Cemetery so watch this space and be sure to follow my social media. If more information becomes known I will post a follow-up post.
Follow for more information on this haunting as it unfolds!
What do you think? Leave a comment on your thoughts about my Carcassonne haunting or if you have experienced a haunting in Carcassonne or while staying at a rental during your travels.
Conclusion
Carcassonne is a city that has captured the past with its restoration of the fortress and medieval cite. A walk in the ramparts will have your imagination traversing time back to the numerous conflicts, lore, and legends that transpired in this sleepy part of France known for its wineries at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountain Range.
And after experiencing two separate spirits making themselves known to be during my two visits, I believe that Carcassonne may just be haunted by restless spirits from its past.
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FAQ
What famous film was filmed at Carcassonne?
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner filmed at Carcassonne Castle.
Where should I stay?
I would recommend forgoing a hotel and staying in the area of Carcassonne located between the Auge River and the Old Cite'/Fortress. There are some hotels located just on the other side of the river that will have clear views of the fortress as well as still be within walking distance.
What else is Carcassonne and the area known for?
The region around Carcassonne is known for Blanquette de Limoux, the world’s oldest sparkling wine (predating Champagne), and cassoulet, a rich slow-cooked stew of white beans, duck, and sausage.
Is Carcassonne easy to travel to?
The nearest airport is Toulouse, France and does have some limited international flights. For most travelers, you are likely to either arrive in Barcelona Spain or Paris France and then you are traveling by car or train to Carcassonne. I prefer train but I noticed on both of my trips that the trains in that part of France were not on time so give yourself some travel time grace if traveling via train. One tip is to fly into Europe, then take a shuttle flight to Toulouse and then a short train to Carcassonne.
What other areas should I visit other than Carcassonne?
I would recommend Marseille for its Mediterranean port and a short boat ride out to the Count of Monte Cristo site, Chateau d'If. I found Marseille to suffer from big city problems the further you get away from the water. Toulouse is a university and space technology city that is one of the larger cities in France. I enjoyed my visit in Toulouse for the cathedral and river scenic views, but a week was too long for what there was to do there. I found Toulouse's New Year's Eve fireworks simple in design compared to the more extravagant ones you find in London or Paris. Essentially, if you have a week in Southeast France, try to split your time between Marseille, Carcassonne, and Toulouse.
Safe and Happy Travels!
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