The “Plan d'ensemble de la Ville et de la Cite de Carcassonne,” created in 1854 under the direction of Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc and Colonel de Rivieres, stands as a remarkable testament to the intersection of urban history, military architecture, and the nascent science of conservation. This manuscript city map captures Carcassonne at a pivotal moment—just as its world-renowned restoration was about to commence—offering a rare and authentic snapshot of the city’s medieval fortifications, bustling lower town, and the intricate interplay between ancient and modern urban forms. The original French title itself evokes the comprehensive vision of its creators, who meticulously documented every bastion, bridge, and boulevard in anticipation of the sweeping changes to come.

What sets this city map apart is its dual focus: the fortified Cité de Carcassonne, a concentric marvel of medieval military engineering, and the Ville Basse, the vibrant lower city across the Aude River. The map’s detailed rendering of the double-walled Cité, complete with towers, barbicans, and the imposing Château Comtal, reveals the city’s formidable defenses—never breached during the Hundred Years’ War and virtually untouched by the Black Prince’s infamous raid. Landmarks such as the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, already undergoing restoration at the time, are clearly marked, highlighting the city’s rich religious and architectural heritage.

The map’s artistry lies not only in its precise delineation of fortifications but also in its thoughtful depiction of Carcassonne’s civil life. The Ville Basse is mapped with equal care, its medieval street grid and prominent squares—like Place Carnot and Place Gambetta—speaking to centuries of civic evolution. The graceful curves of the Aude River and the elegant crossings of the Pont Vieux and Pont Neuf connect the ancient Cité to the bustling neighborhoods of the lower town, illustrating the city’s dynamic relationship with its landscape and waterways. Such features make this map an invaluable resource for anyone captivated by the layered histories of European cities.

Historically, this map is of profound importance. Created at the dawn of Viollet-le-Duc’s half-century-long restoration campaign, it documents Carcassonne as it existed before the removal of later structures and the careful rehabilitation of its ramparts, towers, and gates. The annotations and color-coded key, distinguishing civil and military fortifications, reflect the meticulous planning and vision that would ultimately save Carcassonne from ruin. As a result, this map not only charts the physical contours of a city but also the intellectual and cultural currents that shaped the modern practice of heritage conservation.

Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, the map’s guiding spirit, was a visionary architect whose work at Carcassonne influenced conservation principles worldwide. Renowned for his interpretive restorations of Notre Dame de Paris, Mont Saint-Michel, and other French icons, Viollet-le-Duc approached Carcassonne with both scholarly rigor and creative imagination. His legacy, preserved in this extraordinary map, is not merely one of stone and mortar but of a deep reverence for history, urban form, and the enduring power of place. For collectors, historians, and connoisseurs of cartographic art, this map offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of the living story of Carcassonne—a city whose walls have witnessed the passage of empires, faiths, and centuries.

Streets and roads on this map

• Allée des Soupirs
• Avenue de la Gare
• Avenue du Pont Neuf
• Boulevard Barbès
• Boulevard de la Bastide
• Boulevard de la Cité
• Boulevard de la Préfecture
• Boulevard du Canal
• Boulevard du Commandant Roumens
• Boulevard Marcou
• Boulevard Omer Sarraut
• Boulevard Pasteur
• Boulevard Paul Sabatier
• Boulevard Pierre Curie
• Boulevard Voltaire
• Chemin de la Cité
• Chemin de la Madeleine
• Chemin du Pont Vieux
• Place Carnot
• Place Davilla
• Place Eggenfelden
• Place Gambetta
• Place Marcou
• Place Saint-Gimer
• Place Saint-Louis
• Pont Neuf
• Pont Vieux
• Rue Aimé Ramond
• Rue de la Barbacane
• Rue de Verdun

Notable Features & Landmarks

• The fortified Cité de Carcassonne, with its double ring of walls and numerous towers
• The Basilica of Saint-Nazaire (labelled #20 in red), a major religious and architectural landmark
• The Château Comtal (Count's Castle) within the Cité
• The Ville Basse (lower city) across the river from the Cité
• The Aude River, separating the Cité from the Ville Basse
• Bridges crossing the Aude River, connecting the Cité and Ville Basse
• City gates, including the Porte Narbonnaise and Porte de l'Aude
• Civil and military fortifications, color-coded and annotated
• A detailed key/legend at the left side of the map
• Extensive annotations and project notes in the lower left corner
• Defensive towers and bastions along the walls
• The area between the two lines of walls (the "lists"), later cleared of houses during restoration
• Prominent open spaces and plazas within the city
• The concentric design of the Cité's fortifications
• The rectangular fortified enclosure of the castle
• The medieval street grid of the Ville Basse
• The riverbank and embankments along the Aude

Historical and design context

• Created in 1854 under the direction of Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc and Colonel de Rivieres, as part of the restoration planning for Carcassonne.
• Documents Carcassonne at the outset of its influential 19th-century restoration, before major changes and demolitions.
• Shows both the fortified Cité and the Ville Basse, capturing the dual character of the city.
• Features a large manuscript design with color-coded civil and military fortifications, and a comprehensive legend.
• Reflects the intellectual and cultural movement in 19th-century France to preserve and restore medieval monuments.
• Viollet-le-Duc’s restoration of Carcassonne became a model for modern conservation practices and had a profound influence on heritage preservation.
• The map is an official artifact, signed by the Colonel of the City, and was used for urban planning during the reign of Napoleon III.
• Carcassonne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its exceptional medieval fortifications and restoration legacy.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 16in (40cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.