Place Carnot (Carnot Square), Carcassonne

Place Carnot (Carnot Square), Carcassonne (must see)

In 1355 royal surveyors laid out a large square in Carcassonne, France. The square can be found today at the junction of rue de Verdun and rue Georges Clemenceau.

Throughout its existence, the square has had a variety of names. It has been called Louis XVI Square, Louis XVIII Square, Freedom Square, Republic Square, Napoleon Square and Perrache Square. Finally, in 1889, it is Carnot Square.

Lazare Carnot was a hero of the French revolution. He was a mathematician, military engineer and a politician closely associated with both Robespierre and Napoleon Bonaparte. In the assembly he was not radical. He sat between the extremist Jacobins and the more conservative Girondins. He seemed neither Meat nor Dairy.

The square is paved with stones. At the center of the square is The Fountain of Neptune. It is a sculpture of the god standing on a plate supported by nymphs standing on a pedestal sitting in a round pond. Dolphins spray water into the pond. The sculpture is by Italian artists Barata and son.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there is an open air market in the square. There are outdoor cafe tables where one can sit and enjoy a coffee and pastis while watching people, children and pigeons. As the time passes, imagine the square as a place of executions, fighting and fairs. It has been all these things.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Carcassonne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Place Carnot (Carnot Square) on Map

Sight Name: Place Carnot (Carnot Square)
Sight Location: Carcassonne, France (See walking tours in Carcassonne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Carcassonne, France

Create Your Own Walk in Carcassonne

Create Your Own Walk in Carcassonne

Creating your own self-guided walk in Carcassonne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Carcassonne Introduction Walking Tour

Carcassonne Introduction Walking Tour

Nestled in the picturesque region of Occitanie in southern France is the captivating city of Carcassonne.

The name "Carcassonne" is believed to have originated from the Gallic word "Carsac," referring to a fort settlement that was later fortified by the Romans who occupied the area in the 1st century BC.

A legend suggests another, more colorful version of the name,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Medieval City of Carcassonne Walking Tour

Medieval City of Carcassonne Walking Tour

A pig full of wheat was thrown off the battlements. The lady commanding the fortress was a Muslim. The besieging Christians knew Muslims do not eat pig. What is more, the defenders must have plenty of food if they could feed wheat to a pig and throw it over the walls. The siege had lasted five years. The attackers were starving. They left.

Many stories are told about the fortified medieval...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles