Château Comtal Castle: Is it worth a visit? Is the entrance fee reasonable?

Château Comtal in the heart of the Cité de Carcassonne is a fascinating medieval castle that offers an insight into life in the Middle Ages.

It is the centre of the medieval town and the number one attraction. Unlike the old town of Carcassonne, there is an entrance fee.

In this article in our travel guide, you will find information about what you can see and experience in the Château.

We also answer your questions:

Is it worth visiting the castle?
How much does a 2024 ticket cost? Is the entrance fee reasonable?

The castle “Château Comtal” is the centre of the medieval town and the most important sight in Carcassonne.

Château Comtal – what can you discover?

There are several areas and attractions to discover at Château Comtal, including:

#1 Towers and battlements

Visitors have the opportunity to explore the castle’s towers and battlements, which offer impressive views of the surrounding area and the town. It’s not just children and families who love climbing the stone steps and exploring the fortress walls.

A tour of the “Château Comtal” fortress offers many beautiful views and photo opportunities.

There is also lots of exciting information, whether in the traditional way on a panel or via a multilingual audio guide.

#2 Interiors: royal chambers, knights’ hall

Château Comtal is also home to some well-preserved interiors, including the royal apartments, the knights’ hall and the chapel.

Medieval art & weapons

The rooms are furnished with medieval furniture, weapons and works of art and give an impression of life in the castle.

#3 Exhibitions

Château Comtal also hosts changing exhibitions on various themes that shed light on the history and culture of the region. These exhibitions are informative and interactive and offer an entertaining learning experience for both children and adults.

Our tip: avoid queues with an online ticket

Chomtal Castle is the heart of the Cité de Carcassonne. There is a lot to see and discover here. Around 3 million tourists visit Carcassonne every year.
This is why there can be long queues at the ticket office, even in the low season.

Tip:

With an online ticket, you can bypass the queue at the ticket office and go straight into the castle.

⇒ Link: Booking portal for online tickets (click here)

Left entrance: With an online ticket you can enter the castle directly. — Right: The queue for the ticket counter – from here the waiting time is approx. 25 minutes.

Admission prices 2024:

Standard ticket adults: €11

Children and young people up to 18 years: free of charge

EU citizens up to 26 years: free of charge

Is it worth a visit? Is the admission price reasonable?

This is a difficult question to answer for everyone. In our opinion, the centrepiece of the Cité de Carcassonne is well worth a visit. It is not for nothing that the Château de Comtal is one of the most visited sights in France.

Not just interesting for families and children

A visit to Château Comtal is not only interesting for families and children. The medieval atmosphere, the impressive architecture, the great views over the city and the informative exhibitions are both entertaining and educational.
Children can imagine themselves as knights or princesses as they roam the towers and chambers of the castle, and parents can discover the history and culture of the region together with their children.

Tickets, admission prices 2024

The entrance fee is €11 for adults. Adolescents and children up to the age of 18 are admitted free of charge. EU citizens only pay admission from the age of 26.

Our conclusion

The admission price is very fair for what you get on offer.
Where else can a family explore a top attraction for €22, for example?

Opening hours 2024

1 April to 30 September:

10:00 am – 6:15 pm (last admission to the castle: 5 pm)

1 October to 31 March:

9:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. (Last admission to the castle: 3:45 p.m.)

Our tip: avoid queues with an online ticket

Chomtal Castle is the heart of the Cité de Carcassonne. There is a lot to see and discover here. Around 3 million tourists visit Carcassonne every year.
This is why there can be long queues at the ticket office, even in the low season.

Tip:

With an online ticket, you can bypass the queue at the ticket office and go straight into the castle.

⇒ Link: Booking portal for online tickets (click here)

Red arrow: The ticket counter is located at the end of the wooden building. There can be long queues and waiting times here, even in the low season.
Green arrow: With an online ticket, you can enter the castle directly via a separate entrance.

More information about the Cité de Carcassonne in this travel guide