Carcassonne Cemetery

Cité de Carcassonne is a fortified citadel that stands upon a hill in southern France. The intact walls and conical towers are reminiscent of Disney. Within the walls are a maze of medieval streets and shops and a castle. Just outside the walls there is a drawbridge, a river, vineyards, and one other thing that caught my attention—a cemetery.
 

Anyone who knows me knows that I love cemeteries. Lately, it seems, I can't pass one up—especially when I'm in France. There are other cemeteries in Carcassonne, particularly in the newer part of town, that are much bigger than this one. But being next to a medieval fortress makes this one unique.
 

Cimetière de la Cité is located on the southeast corner, nearly abutting the old walls. We exited the city through the Porte Narbonnaise and the cemetery was right there. Considering that Carcassonne receives thousands of visitors every day, the cemetery goes largely unvisited.
 

The cemetery is not very big, perhaps four-hundred by two-hundred feet. And the graves are not very old. I expected to find graves dating back hundreds of years, but the earliest burial I found dated to the early 1900's.
 

We wandered through the graveled lanes and slowly observed the rows of mausoleums and memorials. Each plot seemed to hold several family members, maybe four or five. Small trinkets and pictures and flowers were placed atop the stone tombs. The headstones were unique in design, featuring crosses and angels.
 

I don't know much about the history of this cemetery. For me it was a solemn experience to spend half an hour walking among the graves and reflecting upon those who passed on. ♠