Carnot Square

Place Carnot

The Carcassonne audio-guided tour brings you to Place Carnot, the lively heart of the Bastide Saint-Louis. Lined with fine bourgeois houses and shaded by plane trees, it is one of the busiest spots in town, ideal for a break.

The Neptune fountain

At the centre of the square stands the Neptune fountain, completed in 1770. Designed by the Italian sculptor Barata, who also created the Hotel de Rolland, it consists of basins of pink marble from Caunes-Minervois topped with statues of tritons, naiads and dolphins, then a statue of Neptune in white marble. It was erected to bring water from the Aude to the town, on what was then the Place aux Herbes.

What there is to see

Place Carnot remains one of the finest in Carcassonne, with its fountain, its bourgeois facades and its terraces. Several mornings a week, it hosts an open-air market where fresh produce and local specialities meet. It is the gathering place of the people of Carcassonne, ideal for a drink or to taste the regional cuisine.

Practical information

Place Carnot is in the centre of the Bastide Saint-Louis and can be seen freely. The market is usually held several mornings a week; the days and hours may vary with the season. Many cafes and restaurants line the square and its immediate surroundings.

What does the fountain on Place Carnot depict ?

It is the Neptune fountain, completed in 1770, adorned with tritons, naiads, dolphins and a statue of Neptune in white marble.

Is there a market on Place Carnot ?

Yes, an open-air market is held there several mornings a week, offering fresh produce and regional specialities.