“I became a writer thanks to Carcassonne.In this extraordinary thriller, rich in the atmospheres of medieval and contemporary France, the lives of two women born centuries apart are linked by a common destiny. Kate Mosse gives Carcassonne a ringing endorsement. It is also steeped in a passion for the region, its history and legends, and that magical shadow world where the two meet. Citadel is a deeply satisfying literary adventure, brimming with all the romance, treachery and cliffhangers you would expect from the genre. The novel is steeped in the landscape and history of the Languedoc – Kate Mosse has lived in Carcassonne, a major staging post on the Canal du Midi, for thirty years and draws much of her inspiration from the region. The book I’m thinking of is Citadel, the third in a trilogy inspired by the Languedoc ( Labyrinth and Sepulchre are the best-selling first two volumes) and the writer in question is Kate Mosse.Ĭitadel (Amazon link) is a page-turning read set in Carcassonne in 1942 during the Nazi occupation and plunges you into the gripping world of the French resistance. It’s one thing to take a lovely great fat book away with you on vacation, but quite another to cruise into the city which inspired it on a luxury barge, tie it up for the night and set off on the lookout for literary associations. Since we’re talking gastronomy, should you be visiting Carcassonne on a Friday, don’t miss the fabulous food market in Place Carnot, only five minutes stroll from the canal.

Your best bet is to stroll round the ramparts drinking in the sights (there is a drawbridge and a portcullis just to add to the ambiance) but don’t necessarily be seduced by the restaurants in the main square, no matter how pretty they are – Cassoulet is the famous local dish made from pork, duck and unctuous white beans, and we think the best Cassoulet is to be found nearer the river at an authentic-looking restaurant called Le Trivalou. It’s a place of such striking atmosphere that it has even inspired a board game of the same name (you could take that on your luxury barge cruise as well!). The ancient castle is set upon a hill overlooking the canal and you might expect to see Rapunzel letting down her golden hair from any of its fifty three towers. The citadel is a bit like Disney on steroids. Carcassonne is extremely well connected, having its own airport close to the city centre.

Languedoc labyrinth