Annecy, Strasbourg, Carcassone, or Vitré?

Question

Beside Paris and Normandy, I'd like to visit ONE medieval city.

Can't decide which one. What do you suggest?

Answer 1

I'll recommend you Carcassone,it's a big one!

You can go there by train or flight.The city is not that big,but beside the medieval city you can enjoy yourself at "Canal du Midi".

One of other famous attaraction in southern-France.

Answer 2

I would go to Strasbourg - it's the biggest and there are some lovely nearby towns in Alsace.

I found Carcasonne anti-climatic and Annecy is lovely but can be "done" in leass than a day.

Never been to Vitre so don't know about that.

Answer 3

I have been to Annecy several times and to Carcassonne for the 1st time a couple years ago.  

In terms of medieval cities, Carcassonne is a better example but...Annecy is a very beautiful town (that I personally enjoy very much) built on Lake Annecy (Lac Annecy).

I liked both, Annecy is more small town, Carcassonne has the medevial city and then there is the regular city besides.  

If I had the choice right now between the 2, I would choose Annecy for a visit but I know that you won't experience as much the feel of the 'medieval era' in Annecy.  Another medieval town much closer to Paris is Provins.  Provins is also a small town but very nice, lots of history there as well.

*Just a little note about my personal impressions of Carcassonne.  I didn't find the atmosphere there to be very French, there is a strong European flavor but not 100% French, there seemed to be a certain amount of Spanish influence there, perhaps because it is so close to the Spanish border.  I believe there are quite a few Spanish people living in the area as well.

Answer 4

Vitré a miedieval city??? Well not famous then cause i live close to that place. I would recommend Saint Malo (30 km from Mont Saint michel) or Carcassone but this latter isn't free.

There is also Moncontour, a tiny place in Britanny.

Answer 5

For sure not Strasbourg...even we have some old castels like the "chateau of Haut- koenigsbourg", it's absolutly not a typical medieval city. Anyhow the castels are not at Strasbourg itself but in the moutains close to Strasbourg (les Vosges)

Annecy is a small city that you can visit in one day no more. The atmosphere is really relaxing especially beside the famous lake of Annecy.

Carcassonne ... I don't know this town... sorry ;)

Answer 6

CARCASSONNE, definitely wonderful , it's like a citadel city

but it will be the further from Paris

Vitré is very nice, but it's small

Annecy is also nice and you could enjoy mountains Alpes

Strasbourg is not really a medieval city, it's more a german architecture city, but it's also a big city where there are many other things to see

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