Ralph Grizzle's video: Adventure Ashore: Carcassone

A stone replica of the Lady Carcas welcomes you into this UNESCO World Heritage Site Although she was likely a fictional character, the legend goes that Carcassonne was under Saracen rule in the 8th century when Charlemagne's army attacked the gates to reconquer the city for the Franks. Because of Carcassonne's defenses, however, the siege lasted for five years. Early in the sixth year, food and water were running out. Lady Carcas, a Saracen princess who ruled the Knights of the City, made an inventory of all remaining reserves. The villagers brought her a pig and a sack of wheat. She fed the wheat to the pig and had it thrown from the highest tower of the city walls. Charlemagne lifted the siege, reasoning that If Carcassonne had enough food to feed a pig wheat the throw it over the city walls, that the city had enough food to continue resisting the siege. Happy that her plan succeeded, Lady Carcas sounded all the bells in the city. One of Charlemagne's men then exclaimed: "Carcas sonne!" (which means “Carcas sounds”).