Carcassonne During World War 2
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Carcassonne, France
- 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
The UNESCO-listed medieval citadel of Carcassonne was occupied by the Nazis during WWII, with its citizens forced to live under a Vichy government. With this private walking tour, journey back to WWII France and learn about life in Carcassonne from 1939 to 1945; hear about the resistance, rationing, and the ‘Free Zone’ as you explore WWII-era sites and memorials; and see an archive of black and white photos from the period.
- Discover a side of Carcassonne most travelers miss
- Explore the medieval citadel on a guided walking tour
- Gain insight from your private guide, a WWII expert
- Enjoy a personalized experience with this private tour
What's Included
- Tour Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Brasserie a 4 Temps2 Bd Barbès, 11000 Carcassonne, France
Meet by the restaurant Brasserie à 4 temps.
End point
- 16 Av. Arthur Mullot, 11000 Carcassonne, France
The tour ends at the memorial to the Resistance, Sqaure Gambetta
Operating hours.9:30 am
Itinerary
1
Carcassonne
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 135 reviews
Shelia_P, Apr 2026
Very educational and our tour guide was very engaging. A must for WW2 enthusiasts…Highly recommend!!!
Kathy_M, Apr 2026
It is a superb tour. It gives a great insight into Carcassonne and its people during the WW2.
Paul is a wonderful guide who brought history alive for us.
We would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks Kathy ! So pleased you enjoyed the tour.
Alan_M, Mar 2026
Absolutely brilliant from start to end. Loved the guide’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject. Definitely recommend.
Melody_G, Nov 2025
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn real stories of real people, mens and women’s stories that help us know about World War II and the people ofCarcasonne during the resistance. This is the brilliance of this tour because it gives us an opportunity to learn from the past , to understand what is happening now and how the choice to save one life can save the world.
Jetta_B, Oct 2025
This is a well structured, engaging and informative tour bringing local characters and events to life. The guide used photographs from the war period and local landmarks very effectively. The pace of the delivery made it enjoyable for everyone.
Sarah_M, Oct 2025
Paul was extremely knowledgeable and very accommodating throughout this tour. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this era of history.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks Sarah. Glad you enjoyed the tour. Thanks for leaving your review. 🙂
Paul
Tom_K, Jun 2025
Paul gave insightful local anecdotes against a backdrop of the national and international stage... thought provoking and sombre at times...
emma_c, Jun 2025
Paul was a great guide and was passionate about Carcassonne during WW2. The tour was informative and fun. Lots of really interesting facts but never dull! Personally I thought the group was too big on my day considering the narrow streets in the town. Sometimes hard to hear and find a safe place to stand. For a big group there needs to be more emphasis on safety and consideration of locals. However I cannot recommend this tour enough!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for finding the time to leave a review. I agree that the group of 23 was too big. It is the first time I have had a group this large. I will look into setting a limit of 12 so the tour experience for everyone is 5 star. Sorry you had trouble hearing everything and that your safety was not adequately considered. Paul
john_c, May 2025
We were impressed with Paul's knowledge and preparation. Anyone interested in World War II history will enjoy this tour.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thanks John. Happy you enjoyed the tour. 🙂
Heather_H, May 2025
Was very informative and our guide made it interesting and answered our questions for us. Very interesting tour!
clairednewton, Apr 2025
There is a reason that Paul has a flawless 5 star record. His tour is amazing! We were entertained, engaged and well informed for the entire 2 hour tour. His tour was one of the reasons we stopped in Carcassonne, and it was worth every minute.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Great review ! Thankyou Claire ! Glad you enjoyed the tour so much.
kristine_b, Feb 2025
Focus is on WWII, very interesting and inspiring. Tour lasts 2 hours or so, I learned a lot. If you are interested in the French Resistance, this is a must.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Interesting and inspiring ! Thankyou !
Paula_Z, Jan 2025
Paul, the guide, was very pleasant the whole time, you could tell he was passionate about the subject. It was a very entertaining and educational tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
"Entertaining and educational" Thankyou ! 🙂
Charlotte_W, Dec 2024
Paul, the guide, was amazing and we all really enjoyed the tour. It was very professionally delivered.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thanks Charlotte! Glad you enjoyed the tour and thanks for leaving your feedback.
Natasha_B, Dec 2024
In Carcassonne, we did explore,
World War II’s tales, rich in lore.
An Englishman led,
With history spread,
We’d recommend this tour and more!
Tim_R, Oct 2024
Paul was passionate about his subject and was able to speak knowledgeably on the history and people involved. He had great pictures to bring the subject to life. At the same time he was able to make history come alive.
david_r, Oct 2024
The two hours plus passed quickly, with a constant dialogue on the way between and at the important places all around the town. Bringing to life the heroic story of the Resistance in Carcassonne and Vichy France.
Lively and interactive, engaging questions, well narrated, good artefacts.
Mike_G, Oct 2024
Paul was punctual and personable. His level of knowledge and research was impressive and very well pitched.
If you are interested in all things WW2, you will love this, but I'm confident that those with less of an interest will still find it very interesting. Both my wife and I loved it, and I'm the WW2 one.
Overall a good value and enjoyable two-and-a-bit hours. Would thoroughly recommend.
Wendy_B, Jul 2024
Excellent tour. Attention to details and facts were superb. Paul had an abundance of details, photos and interesting anecdotes to suit all ages and level of prior knowledge.
I would recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thanks for recommending the tour. Glad you enjoyed yourself and learnt lots.
Carol_M, Jun 2024
Paul was engaging, informative and his love of history made this tour so enjoyable. Definitely a must do if you want to learn more about Carcassonne.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Your the first to call the tour a gem. Thankyou ! Glad you enjoyed yourself :-)
jacqueline_j, Jun 2024
What a good tour. Our guide was well informed and his use of historical photos really made the history come alive. His pace was perfect. He also involved his audience by having us look for things he was discussing. So very interesting and well presented.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thanks for your great feedback. Glad you enjoyed the photos from the archives.
John_B, May 2024
Paul was a great tour guide, knowledgable and engaging. The tour covered some compelling topics and was highly enjoyable.
It was a wonderful way to explore la Bastide, which apparently is often overlooked as tourists head to la Cité.
Colette_B, May 2024
An excellent tour in every respect. Paul presented the tour in a very clear, interesting and informative way, even giving us chance for a coffee stop. His obvious enthusiasm kept us fascinated throughout. We would highly recommend this tour. Great value for money.
Dianne_F, May 2024
Paul was an excellent guide - very knowledgeable with lots of great, well-researched information. He put Carcassone's wartime experience into context, with a fascinating focus on the personal stories of so many brave men and women of the town and surrounding area, and put that into the wider perspective of France's wartime history. The walk was well-paced and just the right length. Thanks Paul, we found it one of the most interesting walking tours we have been on in along time.
Kylie_M, Mar 2024
Paul was a formidable guide, taking us to various places of interest in the city of Carcassonne and explaining the local history of Resistance in an engaging manner. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in WW2 history.
Megumi_K, Oct 2023
It was a very good tour. We learned many things about the local history during the WW2. The guide was not only very knowledgeable but also very kind and had a good sense of humour which made the entire tour really enjoyable. I can highly recommend this tour. Thank you.
Marianne_R, Sep 2023
What a fantastic tour of Carcassone. It was an insight into the life of the city during WW2. Interesting and knowledgeable, Paul did a great job of informing us about so many little or unknown heroes/traitors as well as a few more well known characters.
A great morning. Thanks, Paul!
Tracey_R, Sep 2023
Within 5 minutes of meeting Paul i knew the tour was going to be great. I wasn't wrong. I loved his knowledge and enthusiasm. I recommend it 100%
That tour will always be in my memory. Thankyou Paul.
Kevin_M, Sep 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable 2 hour walk around the lower town of Carcassonne, covering all the important sites and people of the town from WW2, as well as some general background to France as a whole in WW2. Paul, the guide, is deeply interested in the subject and this shines through in the tour. Only thing that might improve it is a bit more on the activities of the SS and Gestapo in the city.
Nigel_P, Jun 2023
We’ve owned a house in Carcassonne for 20 years and have walked past monuments and plaques without giving them a second thought. Paul’s excellent presentation really brings that period in our towns history to life and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to visitors and residents alike!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Thanks for finding the time to leave feedback. Much appreciated ! Good to know I am doing a good job and that people enjoy the tour.
From $23.84
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Carcassonne During World War 2
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