In Southern France stands one of Europe’s last fully walled fortresses is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its majestic medieval ramparts—and even today it has an allure that keeps pulling me back There’s something magnetic about its cobblestone mazes and narrow It’s like stepping into a labyrinth where the stones themselves yearn to reveal ancient secrets My first visit was a brief stop in the winter of 2017 Many of the shops were shuttered for the winter and the air was thick with a quiet stillness but it was too faint in the short hours I spent wandering its walls when I somehow convinced my otherwise rational  wife to cycle 170 kilometres along the Canal du Midi which connects Toulouse to the Mediterranean We arrived in Carcassonne saddle-sore and sun-kissed deeply grateful for the break and the beer we weren’t the only ones struck by the lure of Carcassonne Swiss artist Felice Varini had applied massive bright yellow concentric circles across the walls of the fortress (Those walls have history: parts were first constructed in the fourth century before the town was fully enclosed by the mid-12th century and later restored to its historic glory in the 1800s.) The striking and controversial art installation sparked heated debate and deeply irritated locals But taking umbrage with an artist is like being angry at water—utterly pointless Surely the French must have a saying for that That overnight stay only deepened my curiosity You need to get lost in its alleys to understand the quiet rhythm of life within the fortress walls It’s one of those rare places that slowly reveals itself we treated ourselves to a deeper stay: three nights within the city walls at the five-star Hôtel de la Cité the hotel was a powerhouse of political and religious influence they linger in the sounds of the creaky staircase as you descend into the bar The walls whisper of the Cathar persecution a two-century war waged by the Catholic Church between the 12th and 14th centuries to crush resistance threatened by the “heretic” sect Those defiant echoes rekindle something in me—an old punk-rock ethos Lessons we’d be wise to remember in our current turbulent times when the streets are still empty and the bakeries wake to release the warm The silence of the fortress is broken only by the soft rumble of delivery vans golden hours that Carcassonne becomes something else entirely; not a tourist site you feel the weight and wisdom of the past pressing gently on your shoulders Carcassonne reminds you that history isn’t just something we visit like the best parts of myself I fight to hold on to and it’s wise to guard against perilous attacks as we wander our inner labyrinth in search of something lasting Stay: It’s worth splurging on a night at Hôtel de la Cité Carcassonne a five-star sanctuary tucked inside the fortress walls complete with a terrace that overlooks the city’s medieval ramparts Do: Take a trip to the Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine this massive underground cavern is an otherworldly detour that’s worth the trip Your hair was short-cropped and dyed orange custom-designed tour blends cultural excursions with active walking/hiking excursions in northeastern Spain and southern France In the company of Carleton professors Dana and Stephen Strand plus expert local guides explore off-the-beaten path destinations as well as classic highlights Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the medieval citadel of Carcassonne and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona; and take hikes in the Corbières Massif between medieval villages on the Costa Brava a culinary workshop and a visit to a famous cava producer in Spain and stunning landscapes and architecture throughout Mellon Professor of French and the Humanities Emerita at Carleton College where she taught courses on 20th- and 21st-century French and Francophone literature She has published extensively on French literature The founding director of the European Studies concentration/minor at Carleton she also served on the Middle Eastern Studies Initiative Stephen Strand is Raymond Plank Professor of Incentive Economics Emeritus at Carleton College he taught courses in the Economics of the European Union the Political Economy of the Turkish Republic and a two-term course in Accounting and Management Science Steve was an Affiliate Visiting Professor at Georgetown University’s McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies in Alanya and Morocco; to Paris; and to Cambridge University he and Dana lectured on a Carleton-sponsored small-ship cruise in the western Mediterranean September 25: CARCASSONNE | MIREPOIX | LASTOURS | CARCASSONNETuesday September 26: CARCASSONNE | CANAL DU MIDI | DUILHAC-SOUS-PEYREPERTUSEWednesday September 27: DUILHAC-SOUS-PEYREPERTUSE | CUCUGNAN or AXAT and MAURY | COLLIOURE – Walking Distance 7 mi.Thursday September 28: COLLIOURE | CÉRET | COLLIOURE – Walking Distance 5 mi.Friday September 30: GIRONA | PALS | PERATALLADA or PÚBOL | GIRONA – Walking Distance 4 mi.Sunday October 2: BARCELONA | MONTSERRAT | PENEDÈS WINE REGION | BARCELONA – Walking Distance 4.5 mi.Tuesday Double Occupancy (20-25 participants) $5,995Double Occupancy (15-19 participants) $6,745Single Supplement $825Single room supplement will be charged when requested or required (limited availability) To make a reservation or for more information please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures Full Brochure for this Trip Reservation Form for this Trip 507-222-4000 Sign In We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. Learn more. Maybe I’m biased, but I feel strongly that Carcassonne sits right alongside games like Catan They both will get brought up in every conversation about the most influential board games ever Regardless of whatever that might even mean there’s no questioning the love and admiration gamers have for this tile-laying staple players take turns adding tiles to the map they have the option of placing one of their meeples on one of those terrain features of the tile they just placed the player scores points based on the number of tiles that make up the terrain feature of that meeple the game ends and whoever has the most points wins The strategy of Carcassonne comes from knowing which features to claim for scoring Knowing when and where to place your meeples is literally the whole game But going for the overly safe plays will mean you’re likely to miss out on potentially huge but risky scores Carcassonne is currently on sale. But the 20th Anniversary Edition, available here [SOLD OUT] has updated visuals and enhanced gameplay to pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Carcassonne It’s also fully compatible with all existing expansions so it’s an easy upgrade to the look and feel of this tile-laying classic But for those that favor function over form… BoLS might make a few bucks on anything you buy from these links you don’t enjoy randomly browsing online stores RPG: 'The One Ring' And LOTR 5E Expand Into Misty Realms With New Elven Expansions About Us | Contact Us Names, trademarks, and images copyright theirrespective owner. Click for details. Privacy, Terms of Use, Comment Rules Southern France is known not only for its picturesque landscapes but also for one of the most fascinating and tragic episodes in medieval history: the story of the Cathars. Near Carcassonne, impressive fortresses can still be found, which once served as refuges for this religious movement. Today, they are among the most remarkable landmarks in France. During the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229), the Roman Catholic Church, with the support of the French monarchy, launched a brutal persecution of the Cathars. It is estimated that up to 500,000 people were killed, including not just Cathars but also many civilians suspected of sympathizing with them. The Cathar castles are not only a testament to the past but also a symbol of resistance and spiritual conviction. The imposing ruins perched on rocky peaks tell stories of bravery, persecution, and a lost faith. A visit to these sites, combined with a stay in Lagrasse as well as the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne, offers a journey into a time that will not be easily forgotten. Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.  Sign up to receive travel tips, local event details, restaurant reviews, recipes, community news, and more every week from Stripes Europe. The full 1.3km circuit will offer a 360 degree birds’ eye panorama of the city Visitors to the walled hilltop citadel of Carcassonne in south-west France will be able to walk the full 1.3km circuit of its upper ramparts from tomorrow (12 September)—for the first time in centuries. The route has been opened up thanks to a 31-month, €5.6m restoration programme by the national heritage agency, the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. The circuit offers a 360-degree bird’s eye panorama of the city, whose form dates back to the 13th century. There will be a clear view of its multiturreted castle, its cathedral soaring above a huddle of Roman-tiled roofs, and at its feet the valley of the river Aude, bounded by the Black Mountains on the northern horizon. The restoration involved the repair and stabilisation of 300 metres of the eastern inner curtain wall as well as the watchtowers. Of the €5.6m total cost, €4.5m was provided as a grant tied to the French government’s Covid recovery plan. The work follows refurbishments of the less dilapidated Gallo-Roman northern fortifications in 2008 and the medieval western wall in 2015. “You might think 300 metres isn’t much, but it includes nine towers, all built of friable sandstone, much of which had to be replaced, together with new oak flooring in all the towers,” Franck Doucet, curator of Carcassonne’s castle and ramparts, told The Art Newspaper. “Symbolically it’s important. It’s certainly the biggest restoration project here since Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc,” he continues, referring to the 19th-century architect who initiated a wholesale reconstruction of the city in 1844. Guided to the city by his friend, the writer and historian Prosper Mérrimée, Viollet-Le-Duc turned a dilapidated and largely abandoned ruin into an idealised archetype straight from the pages of a 13th-century book of hours. Though purists cavilled over some of the romantic flourishes—a drawbridge where none had ever existed, the wrong sort of tiles on the roofs—his vision led to the site making Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1979. With an archaeological and architectural record dating back more than 2,000 years and cultural connections ranging from the 13th-century Cathars and the Albigensian crusade to the modern day Languedoc novels of Kate Mosse, Carcassonne has become one of France’s top tourist destinations, with around 700,000 visitors a year. “You have the walls, the towers, the castle, the cathedral—it’s a unique ensemble in an exceptional setting,” Doucet says. It is, he adds, comparable to the monastic island community of Mont St Michel in Normandy—a place of integrated, holistic medieval identity. news11 December 2023President Macron confirms Notre Dame opening date plus plans for a new museumWhile worshippers will be permitted to enter the cathedral by December 2024 a revamp of the surrounding area will continue news15 April 2019Fire destroys roof of Notre Dame cathedral in ParisThe 19th-century spire has collapsed on the medieval landmark While there are plenty of board games today that allow for deeper strategies Carcassonne has wedged itself firmly in the 'easy family fun' category Its inoffensive simplicity gives it a broad appeal that's great to ease reluctant newbies into the hobby and you can play it to death since no two games are ever the same Base game is lacking for your average Eurogamer Carcassonne is essentially medieval Dominoes only with pretty pictures and a novel layer of area control mechanics Inspired by the French town of the same name (which is heralded for its impressive fortifications) the game sees players collectively expanding an intricate countryside map building and claiming territory in order to score the most points Seeing as it's based on the eponymous French city of walls and picturesque streets it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that the board game challenges you to build your own using random tiles and gardens that you've got to complete in a grand jigsaw puzzle each player blind-draws a tile and takes it in turns to expand fields or roads by joining the piece with a matching edge currently making up the board a player can decide to claim something on it by putting one of their wooden 'meeples' (the people-shaped tokens Points are awarded to that player as soon as their road or city is completed They then take that meeple back and increase their score by however much they've earned though as you play it's important to remember the tiles that will be scored at the end One of the more powerful options for claiming map features This earns you three points for every completed city within or bordering that field but they're a downright iconic design that stands the test of time Carcassonne serves as the perfect entry-point to this hobby and strategic enough to keep you invested until the end of each match There's a reason why this is often touted as a good 'beginner' board game Carcassonne may not appeal to players who are used to more complex board games or even wargames While it's easy to learn and teach by comparison it may leave your average Eurogamer wanting more Why play with colored blocks when you have Mechano Play also relies almost entirely on the luck of the draw Players decide where to place tiles and what to claim but there is no selection process or forewarning around what's coming next It makes it hard to form strategies and frustration can set in toward the end as you draw tiles from the dregs of the bag there are a couple of simple tactics you can set up early on especially if you're privy to how many of each kind of tile there is in your set but you're never entirely sure if they'll fully play out avid city builders will wince at the heavy procedurality some roads and cities end up looking like they were designed by an alien species there are plenty of expansions to give it more depth Carcassonne is one of those games with a near-endless supply of expansion packs. You can get everything from castles and kings to bazaars, and they're all visible on publisher Z-Man Games' store the randomization means there's heaps of replayability With countless tile combinations and more than a few ways to score Where Carcassonne really shines is in its simplicity assumptions and accidental house rules often creep up Players often assume they know the rules so they don't think to check but Carcassonne is at least quick to get the hang of That's not least thanks to competitive symmetry (when everyone is playing the same game as opposed to working toward separate No one is stuck pouring over their own version of the rules and there's also a real social element to a game in which everyone contributes to the building of the same board There's a very careful limit placed on the number of meeples each player has in Carcassonne The fact you use them as placeholders means you have to think carefully about the things you claim and the Followers you'll have left over It's a smart way to give other players who might not be doing so well a fair chance to catch up Carcassonne is one of those quintessential worker placement board games that's appropriate for the whole family Even non-board gamers tend to get the hang of it pretty quickly so it's a great one to whip out at family gatherings If you're looking for something with broad appeal For those who want a greater challenge, though, it may be worth looking at the likes of Life in Reterra instead Carcassonne is the definition of easy and breezy - it's engaging so is perfect for anyone that doesn't play many board games or those who'd prefer something straightforward Although you may tire of the mechanics eventually Because you usually start from a single tile and draw from there the only complication during setup is shuffling Meanwhile pack-down is just as straightforward ✅ You're looking for a short game sessionCarcassonne sessions only last around 30 minutes and there's very little setup and packing away to slow you down ✅ You like games that don't rely on skillBeing almost entirely beholden to chance the tables can swing violently in anyone's favor throughout the course ❌ You're looking for a cerebral challengeTo those with a penchant for highly complex board games Carcassonne is going to feel far too simplistic place meeple' is not the most intellectually stimulating ❌ You're an avid city builder with an artistic eyeIf you're into gorgeous road layouts and designing perfect cities the haphazard maps that are borne of Carcassonne will offend your design sensibilities and make you wince DisclaimerThis review was conducted using a copy of the game purchased by the reviewer Carcassonne has widely become known as one of the gateway board games thanks in part to an approachable ruleset that gives players an introduction to popular mechanics while still offering enough strategy for serious hobbyists Carcassonne features dozens of expansions and spinoffs that allow new players to grow alongside the series a wealth of options can sometimes be a double-edged sword for newer tabletop gamers as it often leads to analysis paralysis That’s why we have compiled this easy-to-follow guide to the entire series the best place to start is with the base game Carcassonne is a relatively straightforward tile-placement game Players take turns drawing tiles to help build out the ever-expanding map they can also choose to place a meeple on the board to claim landmarks such as roads or cities Claiming landmarks scores points and the player with the most points after the map is completed is the winner things are never that simple as other players will also want to claim valuable landmarks and potentially keep you from scoring as well Placing tiles soon becomes a strategic operation where players want to expand the map in a way that benefits themselves but not others The luck of the draw may not give you the tile you so desperately need meaning you’ll be forced to weigh your options and make the best of a bad situation As two rounds of Carcassonne never quite play out the same way the base game offers plenty of replayability the base game is likely all newer players will need for quite a while it’s nice to have some variability for games like Carcassonne that tend to get to the table quite often Many of the various expansions add features and mechanics that relate to scoring giving players even more strategic options It should also be noted that the latest version of Carcassonne includes both the fan-favorite River and Abbot expansions All river tiles must be played first and the abbot is a special meeple that can be picked up and scored before landmarks are completed The titular inns and cathedrals are new landmarks that allow for additional scoring when completing roads or cities These tiles simply shuffle into the original box and are otherwise placed normally cities with cathedrals and roads with inns net more points than those without Inns & Cathedrals adds a big meeple that essentially counts as two regular-sized meeples leading to even more scoring and serving as a tie-breaker for controlling landmarks Traders & Builders isn’t a game-changing expansion but it does offer some new ways to score and place tiles Arguably the biggest addition is the new tiles that feature symbols for goods such as cloth Players collect goods when claiming landmarks with these icons and bonus points are awarded to those with the most of a certain resource at the end of the game Traders & Builders introduces two new pieces – the builder and the pig builders allow players to place a second tile during their turn if placed on a landmark that already contains a meeple and pigs score additional points for meeples claiming fields The Princess & The Dragon introduces the biggest tweak to gameplay thus far Volcano tiles summon the dragon token that takes out those who get in its way the princess tile can be played to remove knights from cities The only protection against these tactics is the fairy token The other new addition is the magic portal tile which allows players to place meeples on previously laid tiles Rather than incorporating new ways to score The Princess & The Dragon adds new competitive tactics to Carcassonne but it offers one of the bigger deviations from the original title The Tower is one of the more divisive expansions as it focuses more on building up rather than expanding outward Towers essentially act as area control landmarks these structures can capture opposing meeples on adjacent tiles Captured meeples can be returned to their original player but only for the ransom price of three victory points The Abbey & Mayor expansion takes a break from removing meeples and instead gets back to offering players even more ways to score points The new abbey tiles act as a sort of wild card piece designed to plug holes that might otherwise be difficult to complete serve as tie-breaker pieces for city control when two or more players are vying for the same town Barns are placed in fields to score points from completed cities and wagons can move to adjacent landmarks after existing ones are completed King & Robber is yet another expansion that deviates considerably from the base game Arguably the biggest change is the addition of the large city tiles that allow players to move meeples from the city to complete landmarks and vice versa Players can even add meeples to the city after completing other players’ landmarks promoting even more interaction and strategy the king and robber components reward players for developing the longest road and the biggest cities King & Robber is not quite as easy to teach as other expansions but it’s still simple enough to understand after a round or two some eagle-eyed mathematicians might have noticed that we skipped Expansion 7 That’s because the dexterity-based add-on is out of print Carcassonne has released dozens of expansions over the years and many of them have since been discontinued One of the more notable features of this expansion is the bazaar tiles that allow players to host an auction where they can spend earned points on desirable tiles This is a bit of a hit-or-miss add-on that some fans find fun and others feel slows the game down too much the expansion allows players to build around dead ends using bridges can be placed in cities to score even more points The Hills & Sheep expansion adds a sort of test-your-luck mechanic thanks to the shepherd piece and flock tokens Shepherds are placed in open fields and players then select tokens blindly from a bag Sheep tokens score points while wolf tokens remove the shepherd piece from the board vineyards are added for even more scoring potential Under the Big Top goes all in on its circus theme the big top tile is moved from the previous one and replaced by an animal token with a number value The number value is then attributed to surrounding meeples the ringmaster meeple scores additional points for every circus feature adjacent to it meeples can stack on acrobat tiles to net even more points Rather than other expansions that allow players more scoring options Under the Big Top more or less changes the focus of Carcassonne altogether This isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing; rather it’s a change of pace that can make an old favorite feel like new Carcassonne releases a new big box that contains the base game and several expansions The most recent edition contains the base game and several other pieces from previous expansions The big box is a great place to start as it offers quite a bit of content all in one package Many fans consider the first two expansions some of the best so having both in one package is certainly a win for the Carcassonne Big Box Carcassonne also offers a 20th-anniversary edition that is mostly the same as the base game but adds some upgraded visuals and meeple stickers the anniversary edition also includes exclusive tiles that add even more variability and scoring opportunities Carcassonne: Amazonas is a standalone title incompatible with the original game and its expansions Amazonas plays similarly to standard Carcassonne but it introduces boats that venture down the river players must decide if they want to play meeples or advance their boat giving players various potential paths to victory Carcassonne: Gold Rush is a standalone title incompatible with the original game and its expansions the franchise takes a trip to the Old West the major difference between Gold Rush and standard Carcassonne is the mining mechanic Claiming mountains more or less works like any other landmark in Carcassonne These tokens can award up to five points (or pieces of gold) or as little as zero points it's like mining gold – sometimes you get lucky Carcassonne: Hunters & Gatherers is a prehistoric-themed version of Carcassonne It mostly plays the same as standard Carcassonne players can score additional points for animals located within their landmarks finishing forests (Hunters & Gatherers’ version of cities) awards players special valuable tiles This occurs even when finishing another player’s forest Carcassonne: Hunters & Gatherers is incompatible with the original game or any of its expansions Carcassonne: Safari is yet another standalone version of Carcassonne incompatible with other entries in the series – this time additional points are scored for different animals present on landmarks the newly added safari truck game piece also serves as a new mechanic These pieces are placed in yet-to-be-played tile areas and can be picked up and moved for additional points when the map eventually expands to that part of the grid Strategic placement can even lead to blocking other players Mists over Carcassonne is the first cooperative iteration of the series This version plays similarly to standard Carcassonne players score points together to try and reach the threshold for victory players also need to worry about managing the number of ghosts on the board present by finishing up the new mist landmarks Allowing too many ghosts to run rampant on the board or failing to achieve a certain amount of points in a given period means that players lose for fans of the traditional Carcassonne experience there is an additional set of rules to play Mists as a competitive experience you may come across discontinued titles like Carcassonne Star Wars the Old Testament-themed Ark of the Covenant spin-off and the missing Catapult expansion referenced earlier are generally only available on the secondhand market While current publisher Z-Man Games has reprinted many iterations potentially destined to become collector’s items For some great recommendations, make sure to check out our list of the best four-player board games as well as our picks for the best solo board games Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGOs. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter. buy the physical for Castles of Burgundy or Raja of the Ganges instead I had no idea how many expansions there were for this You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed originally from the Landes region of France Please note that this exceptional Gojira date to be experienced in the lovely setting of the Théâtre Jean-Deschamps in Carcassonne Another name confirmed for the Carcassonne Festival in 2025? Judas Priest The legendary British heavy metal band will be at the Théâtre Jean-Deschamps on July 15 for what promises to be an explosive concert North American singer Alanis Morissette is also planning a stopover in Carcassonne this summer The author of hits such as"Ironic","Hand in My Pocket","You Learn","Thank You" and"You Oughta Know" is scheduled to perform on July 13 the Carcassonne festival welcomed artists and groups as varied as Scorpions Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here Heaven help anyone who expects to see potatoes and French beans in a salade niçoise when in Nice; the real thing contains neither (such a suggestion may be met with a “quelle horreur” from a local) There is much debate about what it should contain however; some Niçois will only use tuna or anchovies not fresh; others insist it should contain a certain kind of olive True fans of gourmet bivalves will know that their flavour changes depending on where they grow, which means you can have fun visiting different areas of France to savour them, whether that be Cancale in Brittany or the Étang de Thau near Montpellier. One of the most enchanting areas to try les huitres is the Bassin d’Arcachon on the coast The Alsatian capital has long been a gourmet hotspot, so much so that the Büchmesser – the belly measurer – was erected opposite the cathedral in 1567 to measure the girth of the city’s enthusiastic eaters See if you can shimmy through the narrow gap between the building and the column on the corner of rue Mercière at the start of your trip because there’s no way you’ll fit through it by the end especially if you indulge in the city’s signature dish This plate of fermented cabbage topped by different cuts of pork and sausage is a staple on the menus of the city’s traditional wine taverns carved wooden furniture and excellent wine lists where you can spend a good part of a day enjoying the cosy atmosphere where expert baker Franck Dépériers makes an excellent version a 170km loop that allows you to find local restaurants and meet duck producers and the craftspeople who make the essential cassole pot It also includes a stop at fellow cassoulet town Carcassonne where it’s served with crispy garlic potatoes for extra piquancy (mains from €20) When you’ve been skiing or hiking in the mountains there’s no better way to refuel than with a serving of tartiflette is food for the soul and originates in the Aravis mountains where it was rather unromantically invented in its modern form in the 1980s to promote its key ingredient Reblochon cheese (though it is based on an 18th-century dish Amuse Bouche: How to Eat Your Way Around France by Carolyn Boyd is published in paperback by Profile on 8 May at £10.99. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com The beaches of D-Day in Normandy and the medieval fortresses of Carcassonne in Occitanie have been submitted for consideration on the UNESCO World Heritage List Both applications are set to be examined by UNESCO in July 2026 the Ministry of Culture announced on February 10.  the ministry said: “These applications were drawn up in close collaboration with the department of Aude The D-Day beaches were highly significant because they were “the theatre of Operation Neptune launched on June 6 1944 on the Normandy coast [which] led to the liberation of Western Europe and the end of the Second World War in Europe” said the Ministry of Culture press release Read also: How a Frenchman became a GI on Omaha beach in WW2  The beaches have become “a place of gathering around a universal message” and bear “the memory of a struggle for freedom and peace” An application for the area was first submitted in 2018 but UNESCO later said that at the time that it was postponing all “evaluation of sites associated with recent conflicts”.  The application is now up for consideration again.  “We all hope that this application will be successful; it is the logical next step in the process of remembrance and commemoration,” said Michael Dodds director of the Comité régional du tourisme de Normandie (Normandy tourism committee) The second application is for “the system of fortresses of Carcassonne” These 13th- and 14th-century structures are made up of eight monuments spread across the departments of Aude and Ariège They include “the fortifications of Carcassonne and It continued: “Built on rocky outcrops in magnificent landscapes [these buildings] illustrate a pivotal period of history and provide a unique example of military architecture Read more: Photos: These are France’s top five most visited national monuments in 2024Read also: Full tour of Carcassone’s medieval ramparts to open for the first time  Carcassonne was the fifth-most-visited national monument in France in 2024, with 643,882 visitors, said the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN) in January Eight pairs of tickets for this summer’s festival are available exclusively to Connexion subscribers Architects set out to modernise Le Grand Rex while respecting its original design With more than one million visitors last year the cemetery is one of the region’s most-visited D-Day sites Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain the Casa de Cultura in l’Alfàs del Pi will host the second edition of L’Alfàs Lúdic Fest A fun-filled event for all ages organised by the Department of Youth at l’Alfàs del Pi Town Hall in collaboration with the Dragón Association of Altea The second edition of L’Alfàs Lúdic Fest promises to be a spectacular board game fair where people of all ages can enjoy a wide variety of games and activities leading board game publishers from across Spain will be in attendance bringing along their latest releases and flagship titles There will be demo games as well as a range of tournaments including the Valencian Community Open of Crokinole and regional tournaments of Catan and Carcassonne Local tournaments will include games such as Orbito An engaging programme of workshops has also been designed Prior registration will be required to participate in the workshops One of the highlights of this second edition will be a live recording of the podcast Qué rico el mambo The outdoor area of the Casa de Cultura will host a selection of giant games There will also be a soft combat demonstration and a board game raffle every 30 minutes This is an event recommended for all age groups Entry is free of charge but requires prior registration due to capacity limits Last year’s edition of L’Alfàs Lúdic Fest brought together 1,500 people at the Casa de Cultura over 200 board games will be available to enjoy L’Alfàs Lúdic Fest is a family-friendly event designed to promote healthy leisure activities among young people. Throughout the day Participants can even win prizes simply by attending it’s a great meeting place for board game enthusiasts of all ages and a showcase for the latest releases from game publishers Registration is now open and can be completed via the QR code on the event poster or through the following link: https://entradium.com/events/alfas-ludic-fest-alf you can contact the Youth Information Centre at the Casa de Cultura Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish It's an incredibly simple game to get into and master tile-based game with a French medieval theme has players competing to expand their landholdings Carcassonne isn't new: While it has sold more than 12 million copies since its first release 21 years ago in my opinion this is far easier to get into than Catan and more immediately interesting when play begins The instructions are admittedly a little daunting the rules and systems reveal themselves to be incredibly simple as you play There is no elimination mechanic in Carcassonne meaning that every player is in the game until the end when scoring is tallied.  person-shaped wooden figurines that represent each player's citizens who are in service of carving out territories in the historical-fictional founding of the ancient French city of Carcassonne — a real place that still exists This is because you build the game board as you go from a randomized set of tiles featuring illustrations of country roads drawing one at the start of each player's turn (There is a scoring board that's separated from the main game area to track players' scores.) you cannot place the imagery of a field on a tile directly against the interior of a city they can lay another tile or place one meeple on the tile that was last placed provided that the tile has an image of a road or city; this is how a player builds control of a territory you'll earn points for the amount of tiles used: roads are worth one point per tile cities are worth two (cities with a crest icon are worth four) This action contests the other player's claim for either a city or a road The winner of the tile points is the player with the most meeples on the city or road being scored There are aggressive players who try to challenge every territory feature in progress that they come across There are passive players who just try to complete their little fiefdoms unnoticed — and there are players who go for massive wins with multi-tile mega-structures The remaining road and city tiles still in progress are scored to determine the winner I also enjoy how many options are available in each turn just from two actions and all of the strategic decisions that are possible with just those two options per turn This enhanced element mixes up the decisions players can make as they now have to consider this river you can purchase additional expansion sets that build upon the core game which sees players staving off a dragon attack and rescuing a princess Carcassonne is famous for its medieval citadel overlooking the town. Many tourists visit the citadel all year round to admire the remains of ancient times. But what if you could see the citadel in its 14th-century heyday? Excurio offers a new immersive journey to discover the ramparts of Carcassonne. This experience is a co-production with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux Starting April 4, 2025 at Eclipso in Bercy Village, Excurio unveils its fourth virtual reality adventure: Les derniers remparts, Carcassonne 1304 This immersive experience takes us back in time to discover this great fortress and its just-completed ramparts This 45-minute expedition plunges us into a never-before-seen story based around an emblematic monument of southern France In this virtual reality experience through the streets and ramparts of Carcassonne weapons training or a visit to the apartments of the fortress lords: this journey back in time is designed to immerse us entirely in theatmosphere of the 14th century This excursion into the past is romanticized by a simple scenario Against a backdrop of religious and power struggles we follow the destiny of a young nobleman charged with protecting the peace and the city in these troubled times This adventure blends fiction and historical reality. To achieve this, Excurio has teamed up with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux to create a detailed replica of the medieval city and certain elements of its history Excurio promises a new adventure even more sensational and creative than its predecessors This immersive experience is both interesting and entertaining as you wander around the reconstructed city in awe Some scenes and views are very impressive and spectacular and we find ourselves in the role of silent witnesses The adventure is suitable for children aged 8 and over that this virtual reality system may make the most sensitive people dizzy or dizzy We can't wait to discover this new experience at Bercy Village from April 4 This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation ALBI and Carcassonne will fight it out for pole position in their rescheduled match on Wednesday after overcoming St Gaudens and Pia In what should have been the final round of the regular season – before the weather put paid to last week’s clash between the top two – Albi travelled to St Gaudens and came away with a hard-won 36-22 victory after the sides had been locked at 12-12 at the break And in an extraordinary match at Stade Albert Domec scored by Canaries’ loose-forward Bastien Canet following a drive by Jowasa Drodrolagi did not come until the 57th minute as both defences held impressively After intense pressure on the Carcassonne line Pia’s Hakim Miloudi found a gap out wide to go over with two minutes left Carcassonne and Albi will have home semi-finals Pia and Limoux are in contention for third who face already-eliminated St Gaudens in their rearranged match on Wednesday Maxime Grésèque’s men remained in contention with a 34-26 win at Avignon with secondrow Romain Pourret and hooker Yacin Atba both crossing in their last game for the club and Fabien Jullien also touching down pulling back to 18-10 with tries from Romain Puso and Quentin Crunel and then took control in the second half as Puso and Crunel both added a second try Bastien Ader also struck twice and Zac Santo chimed in with another Sofiane Ghanem scored a late try for Avignon and Pourret fittingly had the last word with his second try of the game already assured of the sixth and last play-off spot Hamza Bachoukh touching down twice and Jack Aiken also crossing with Toa Mata’afa and Paul Momirovski scoring the decisive tries in their 28-22 victory Wail Skoundri scored Toulouse’s only try as they went in at 8-8 at half-time after which Villefranche winger Kamaldine Sebea completed his hat-trick in a dominant second-half display After two years of work on 300 metres of ramparts and 9 towers on the eastern front the Centre des monuments nationaux is completing a major project at the Cité de Carcassonne the public will be able to discover the medieval town for the first time from the top of the inner ramparts in 2022 the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) embarked on a major restoration project on the eastern front of the remparts de Carcassonne thanks to €4.5 million in funding from the France Recovery Plan The project involved restoring and securing the parapet walk and the towers between the Narbonne towers and the prison tower represents the most extensive restoration since that carried out by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc The restoration of the eastern front will allow a complete tour of the enclosure from the château comtal offering an uninterrupted view of the Carcassonne countryside The restoration has benefited from the recovery plan laying the oak floors of the towers and installing safety devices Particular attention was paid to preserving the 19th-century battlements and replacing damaged stones with Catalan sandstone The facings were cleaned to remove moss and lichen and the stones were repointed to ensure the longevity of the structures Want to find out more? Find out why the fortress of Carcassonne has a double wall Here’s how a cease and desist letter from the publishers of Carcassone kicked off an industry storm around the word Meeple one board game’s crowdfunded success turned out to be the spark of a much larger issue: who who owns the trademark for the word meeple just declare that you own the usage to its rights for commercial purposes that the industry is even considering the word meeple as trademarked is quite a surprise I don’t know how you made it this long without playing a board game It’s one of those words like Kleenex or Band-Aid where the thing it refers to probably has a generic name When was the last time you cut your finger and asked someone for an “adhesive bandage” when was the last time you needed to sign a document and asked someone for a “ballpoint pen” These little wooden guys have been around for a while The term itself became popularized in 2000 thanks to the internet There are board games that have animal shaped meeples The term was widespread—so widespread that everyone just assumed it was “a board game thing” that anyone could use the company once known as Cogito Ergo Meeple received a cease-and-desist letter from Carcassonne publisher Hans Im Glueck It addressed the use of its trademark on the word Meeple The company formerly known as Cogito Ergo Meeple received a cease and desist letter from “a company” at the end of May. In an update posted on its Gamefound page the company revealed that it would be rebranding as Cotswold Games and its worker placement game Why the de-meeplification? Because both the word meeple and the unique wooden shape were registered as intellectual property in the EU. As Cotswold Games put it: “We were a little surprised as the term is used so frequently in the hobby We thought Meeples belonged to all board gamers We of course have zero interest in using anyone else’s IP so we think the best option is to do as they ask.” BoardGameWire had more details on the story It asserts Carcassonne publisher Hans Im Glueck’s ownership of the “German and European trademarks for the word meeple across a wide range of use cases as well as the trademark representing the classic meeple figure.” And per BoardGameWire’s reporting, the cease and desist letter has much wider implications. They spoke to Corey Thompson, whom you might recognize from the Board Games Insider Podcast, about how the industry might be affected: “I had just reported the news about Cogito Ergo Meeple for Board Game Insider on May 30 I called my friend Marian to ask her opinion on it you could be forgiven for not knowing that the word meeple was trademarked Hans Im Glueck didn’t succeed in registering the trademark until 2019 The process had substantive objections from miniatures-ranking-website-turned-board-game-publisher CMON 5E Compatible RPG Round Up: 'Quest for Kanzar' this area offers those who visit an authentic more grassroots taste of the “real” France It’s often missed off other tourists’ lists meaning that those who do visit can expect less crowding unique and unfiltered terrain and a real insight into French provincial life can be traced back to the Celtic tribes of the late Iron Age before it was conquered by the Roman Empire Its winemaking traditions have evolved through the tapestry of cultures woven into the area’s history But its modern appeal can be chalked up in equal parts to its vineyards respected food scene and a more affordable lifestyle compared to many of its neighbouring regions Though its wines have gained international recognition Languedoc itself remains a relatively undiscovered gem This low-key status lends itself to calmer less-crowded getaways that visitors to the region so relish from the best hotels to book to the coolest things to do Le Vieux CastillonThe best hotels in LanguedocChâteau St Pierre de SerjacWhether you’re after an upscale family getaway or a romantic retreat this immaculately renovated château has perfected the often elusive balance between the two offering refined French living in both the main house and surrounding villas The hotel is the ideal base for exploring – it’s just a short drive away from myriad medieval villages and 30 minutes from the beach Join excursions devised by the château team from star-gazing onsite to boat trips or just enjoying the 200-acre estate with a picnic bag and wine cooler packed full of hotel-made delights and regional delicacies There’s also a luxurious spa to kick back in A table by the window is a must if you happen to head to breakfast before sunrise as the first rays rising over the infinity pool bathes the manicured lawns in a honey-hued glow that’s worth waking up early for Address: Château St Pierre de Serjac, 34480 Puissalicon, FranceWebsite: serjac.com Sandwiched between the lungs of a medieval village 18 ancient village houses have been woven together to create a hotel where the old bones still feel palpable beneath the more contemporary additions cosy corners and various indoor and outdoor terraces and spaces to relax as well as an outdoor pool flanked by crumbly original walls looking out across the picturesque Languedoc countryside There’s a small but perfectly formed spa and the famous Roman aqueduct just a short bike ride away (complimentary two-wheelers can be rented from the hotel) Address: 10 Rue Turion Sabatier, 30210 Castillon-du-Gard, FranceWebsite: vieuxcastillon.com Emulating the atmosphere of an off-grid village Château les Carrasses quite literally unfurls itself into the undulating vineyards that surround the 19th-century estate and is a destination-within-a-destination for many of those who stay Biscuit-hued self-catering villas (many with private pools and gardens) pepper the grounds a mini farm and a row of complimentary bikes which can be borrowed at whim to get a closer look at the vineyards beyond The spaces are set up with community in mind while also offering the families and groups of friends who stay the flexibility to dine in the privacy of their villa Those on the hunt for real relaxation take note: a wellness cabin in the middle of a vineyard reached by a rocky climb in an electronic buggy Address: Route de Capestang, 34310 Quarante, FranceWebsite: lescarrasses.com Medieval fortified city of CarcassonneGetty ImagesExplore the Medieval City of CarcassonneA UNESCO World Heritage Site Carcassonne’s fortified walls and imposing citadel are a window into the Middle Ages Take a meander through its cobbled streets visit the hilltop Cité de Carcassonne – occupied through the ages by Romans and Crusaders – which lords itself over the river Aude and immerse yourself in its rich narrative tapestry An evening visit offers an entirely different perspective bathing the winding streets in an ethereal glow Lac Du SalagouGetty ImagesTake a dip in Lac Du SalagouLanguedoc abounds with serene swimming spots though few rival the beauty of Lac du Salagou made up of some 750 hectares of sapphire blue waters encircled by ochre hills The contrast between the rich blue of the lake with the red volcanic rock that surrounds it creates a lunar-like landscape upon which visitors can enjoy a variety of activities Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the abandoned lakeside village of Celles Abbey of Saint Martin du CanigouGetty ImagesTake a breath at the Abbey of Saint Martin du CanigouDescribed by many as a "deeply spiritual place" the serene Abbey of Saint Martin du Canigou sits high on a shrub-covered mountainside a bewitching reward for those willing to break a sweat on the hike up While the guided tours are conducted in French the breathtaking views are the main attraction and speak for themselves Languedoc is the largest producer of organic wines in France as well as the biggest producer of IGP and AOC rosé wines in the country so no visit here would be truly complete without a vineyard visit where the garrigue-covered hills meet the Cévennes mountains Château de Lascaux stands as a testament to biodynamic winemaking boasts 85 hectares of vineyards producing exceptional Syrah wines making it a vibrant destination for wine enthusiasts Address: Route du Brestalou, 34270 Vacquières, FranceWebsite: chateau-lascaux.com Vineyard in LanguedocGetty ImagesBest restaurants in LanguedocFleur d’Olargues, OlargueGazing out across Olargues, one of France’s most beautiful villages, the suntrap terrace of restaurant Fleurs d’Olargues offers a heady mix of great food (with dishes creed using a mix of ancestral and modern techniques) occult vistas and the type of attentive service and authentic knowledge that only a real family-run restaurant can pull off Run by Danish chef Kasper Bergh and his wife Fe dishes include classics like smørrebrød (to be reductive an open sandwich) from Bergh’s heritage as well as Asian touches from Fe’s paddle in the rock pools and then head here for a well-deserved lunch Make sure to book early; the location might be remote Address: Pont du Diable, D908, 34390 OlarguesWebsite: fleursdeolargues.com L’Ecluse is the kind of restaurant people base their holidays around A menu of simple yet innovative French-Mediterranean tapas pairs with a perfectly formed local wine list to form the basis of a dining experience that is about good food The bucolic setting and unobtrusive service make this the sort of place where you could while away an entire afternoon without evening noticing Addres: 16 Av. Pierre Bérégovoy, 34420 Villeneuve-lès-Béziers, FranceWebsite: restaurant-ecluse-beziers.fr which now makes up part of the owner’s family home tucked beside the ancient walls of the medieval city of Carcassonne this enchanting restaurant is an ode to true family and gastronomy values are the real focus here and are served as part of an ever-changing but always delicious menu The unobtrusive frontage gives way to elegant tables beneath solid original beams and spills into a charming patio Owner and chef Bernard Marius really celebrates local produce flavours and traditions and was himself trained by the starred chef Marcel Aymeric at the time of the Logis de Trencavel in Carcassonne Address: 13 Rue Saint-Jean, 11000 Carcassonne, FranceWebsite: lamarquiere.com Not even the little wooden board game guys are safe board game publisher Cogito Ergo Meeple—see it's everywhere—announced in May that it was rebranding both the company and its recently-crowdfunded game Meeple Inc after receiving a cease-and-desist email from Hans im Glück While the future of meeples is suddenly uncertain, it seems like Brunnhofer is fully aware of the potential board gamer outrage stoked by the cease-and-desist letter. "If someone asks us nicely," Brunnhofer told BoardGameWire, "we will allow the use [of meeples] and based on the intent to commercialise it or not, proceed." Brunnhofer also said he'd decided to apologize to Cotswold Games. Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. News WriterLincoln has been writing about games for 11 years—unless you include the essays about procedural storytelling in Dwarf Fortress he convinced his college professors to accept Leveraging the brainworms from a youth spent in World of Warcraft to write for sites like Waypoint Lincoln spent three years freelancing for PC Gamer before joining on as a full-time News Writer in 2024 bringing an expertise in Caves of Qud bird diplomacy and hitting dinosaurs with hammers in Monster Hunter The medieval village of Carcassone turns into a fantasy Christmas village with ice rink and giant Ferris wheel which attracts thousands of visitors to the neighboring country That is why we do not tremble to recommend that this Christmas you visit Carcassonne the great walled town in the south of France that has as it has one of the most impressive Christmas markets of our environment becomes a branch of Santa Claus where you can find ice rinks a magic Ferris wheel and many more activities An ideal time to visit an obligatory village which making it ideal to stroll through its narrow streets sip a hot chocolate and enjoy the festivities with family and friends The kick-off of the festivities of Carcassonne will begin In the Place Carnot the Christmas market displays about thirty stalls from 11 am to 7 pm as it is not a city where there are overpriced accommodations In the medieval Christmas village of Carcassone which allows you to enjoy the incredible views of the Canal du Midi and the illuminated Ciutadella there are stronger attractions such as the Christmas Tourbillon roller coaster or the Tour Magique where you can ride while the little ones enjoy the enchanted reindeer and the little horses There is also the “Rooftop” with its cable cars virtual reality and curling at the Général De Gaulle Square From Barcelona you have two options to get to the Christmas village of Carcassone you can take a High Speed train that reaches the city in just three hours as on Saturdays the car park is free of charge especially extend their opening hours during this period Despite being regularly amongst most classic board games lists not everyone knows how to play Carcassonne this game is all about building a mediaeval landscape and populating it Created by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede in 2000 Carcassonne invites players to dispute for power in a mediaeval scenario where you win by controlling more pieces of land and important landmarks than the other players While players can find ways to play strategically Carcassonne is not a difficult game to learn - making it a good choice when introducing board games to someone who has no prior experience Carcassonne has become one of the best family board games because of how easy it is to have fun with it because of Carcassonne’s supplemental rules replaying the game is always a fresh experience But just because it’s a classic doesn’t mean everyone has played it If you want to learn how to play Carcassonne you’ll find everything you need to know in this article Carcassonne is a board game about developing a civilisation in mediaeval France this is a quick board game to play: taking around 30 to 45 minutes making all the preparations easy for newer players to start the game as soon as possible Even when it comes to adding a few extra pieces the second time you play it Carcassonne will remain a simple game to set up you’re going to use the normal land tiles with a light grey back and the starting tile All the river tiles - which also have dark grey backs - should go back to the box as indicated by the official rules only the regular meeples are going to be used The five abbots are going to be kept in the box as well the game starts with the youngest player and then follows a clockwise order from there Each player has a turn that is split into three phases: you’re going to draw a tile from one of the piles and connect it to any of the previously placed tiles you have to connect the tile you just drew to the starting tile You can only connect a tile to another if the one you drew has the same landscape feature as the tile you want to connect it to although only the first three need to be used in a game with beginners: road Roads: A road is completed when it’s closed at both ends which means that there is a city or the road loops onto itself Meeples placed on roads are called travellers City: Some tiles might come with part of a city which you must connect to another tile with a city You will have a complete city when it’s entirely surrounded by walls Meeples in cities are called knights and some parts of a city can come with a small shield symbol called coat of arms Monastery: A little bit different from the other landscape elements in the game monasteries always come in the centre of the tile To place it on the table you must connect it using other features it has The meeples you put on monastery tiles are monks/nuns A monastery is considered completed only when it’s fully surrounded by other tiles Field: Different from all of the other tiles fields can not exactly be ‘completed’ The specific rules regarding fields and how they work are going to be explained in the placing and end of the game sections all you need to know is that a meeple placed on it is called a farmer River: Part of the mini-expansion the base game comes with Besides having to start with the source title and be completed with the lake tile it must be placed in the opposite direction to the previous river bend Garden: Although gardens are not proper tiles they are present in some tiles of the other types A garden is a special landscape feature where only abbots can be placed and you will only take it into consideration when playing with the supplemental rules What happens if you can’t connect the tile you drew with any already on the table it’s suggested that you put that piece away and draw another one if this isn’t the case and you placed your piece Now you have the piece you just drew on the table you have the option to place a meeple on it Keep in mind that you can only do so on the tile you just placed This is an important phase since it might determine how many victory points you earn this turn some important rules you must follow when placing a meeple: This is the last phase of your turn and the moment when you count the points you made with meeples in this turn The scoring system in Carcassonne is based on the meeples you have placed on a completed landscape feature a meeple on a city that is completely surrounded by a wall or on a road that is closed on both ends The quantity of points you make depends on the type of feature you’ve placed meeples on: move your scoreboard meeple to reflect the number of points you’ve earned that round you must take the meeple that is on the completed feature and put it back into your supply But if your meeple is on an uncompleted feature your turn is over and it’s time for the next player to draw a tile it’s time to start the final scoring and end the game The final scoring begins after the last tile has been placed and which they’ll go through their regular scoring phase The final score will only count the remaining meeples in incomplete features or farmers the player with the most points is the winner Colossal titled “Concentric Concentric,” was installed this spring and will remain up through September Do stories and artists like this matter to you? 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See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Carcassonne might be the ideal gateway board game for tabletop newbies but it’s got less appeal for gaming veterans It's an essential for players who are new to board games but veterans might be hard-pressed to choose it over a more complex Albi moved level on points overnight with leaders Carcassonne as they swept aside the challenge of third-placed visitors Pia In inhospitable conditions but in front of nearly 3,000 fans with tries from centre Clément Tailhades and stand-off Brad Wall Pia could not break down the home defence until the 65th minute Three tries in ten minutes settled the outcome Gigot himself from an interception and a second try from Tailhades Pia winger Ilias Bergal scored Pia’s second but it was too late to affect the outcome Meanwhile Carcassonne fell to a shock 20-12 defeat at Villefranche their third in a row after losses to Albi and Pia Promoted team Villefranche were themselves defeated last week in the cup by Elite 2 outfit Villegailhenc the Canaries nevertheless led 12-8 at the break before the Wolves caught them with a try from Paul Sangaré Lézignan got back on track with a surprisingly comfortable 28-12 win over St Estève-XIII Catalan who failed to live up to the expectations of a team in the top three for most of the season Particularly in the second half Lézignan dominated their opponents winger Jordan Flovie scoring a hat-trick and new signing Paul Momirovski from Leeds showing his value by creating three tries from halfback Limoux gained a valuable win in the race for a top six place by beating rivals Villeneuve 18-6 who had won 20-18 win at Lézignan in the last match before the Christmas break were less effective against a Limoux side who took advantage of their failings Villeneuve made numerous mistakes and had three players sinbinned Limoux’s Matis Dall’Asta capitalising with three penalty-goals Hooker Justin Bouscayrol scored the only try of the first half before fullback Zac Santo came into the line to create the overlap for winger Valentin Blasi to cross wide out and help extend the lead to 12-0 Villeneuve responded when fullback Jack Aiken ran through the Limoux defence to catch Jackson Moule’s high kick and touch down apart from collecting a defensive bonus point St Gaudens helped themselves to a vital three points at the expense of struggling Avignon You don't have to know much about Carcassonne to appreciate the beauty of this newly set Guinness World Record The tabletop game of placing tiles to slowly piece together a medieval countryside turned serious at March's GothCon 2016 in Sweden The largest Carcassonne game to date used a total of 10,007 tiles Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York Adam has spent his life in and around the city He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Over the years, my wife, Joni, and I had traveled throughout France usually staying a couple of weeks looking for the right place for our retirement realizing even more that our retirement would eventually lead us back to France with as much ease as possible was a priority Access to great food was a requirement and the availability of a university Our strategy was to seek out people in these communities that could show and tell us what life was like in their community to stay in either B&B’s or small hotels operated by the proprietor This gave us an opportunity to get to know neighborhoods A golfing friend of mine recommended Carcassonne His sister lived there for fifteen years and was willing to give us the tour invite us to a Saturday market and pub-crawl Carcassonne’s biggest draw is the La Cite Citadel and Chateau They stand over the village below with huge moats The village of La Cite contains the Basilique St Nazaire where the Siege Stone hangs commemorating the war with the Crusaders in 1209 positioned within the ramparts of the La Cite We booked three days of our stay in the Hotel De La Cite A 10-minute taxi ride from the train station left us at the cemetery drawbridge entrance to La Cite village From there a small hotel shuttle picked us up and traversed the narrow cobblestone pathway to the hotel It is a charming hotel that opens on the back to a rampart walk to the Chateau No traffic other than an occasional delivery vehicle is allowed in the Citadel The cobblestone streets wind through the village which is full of restaurants and some of the best cassoulet (a hot bean in the village where we had the most marvelous cassoulet We planned our itinerary for the next day meeting at the central plaza in the town below where we would join our new friends at the central market and pub “The Florian” we left the castle for the walk to the town below through a charming park to a footbridge across the Aude River we made our way onto the main promenade heading toward the central market The town center was filled with modern retailers We arrived at the central market filled with vendors selling colorful vegetables The prices were far better than in the U.S fresh mussels were just $3 euro per kilo and tomatoes $1.99 per kilo Our friends introduced us to their friends from Ireland They all seemed excited to meet prospective new residents and shared their views on living in Carcassonne they all loved the smallness of the village They said the weather was good in general but windy in the fall The rents and cost of real estate was moderate Good apartments could be had for $890 a month and condos could be purchased for $76,000 to $150,000 a central market filled with local food vendors Most of the food vendors had closed but the pub continued until around 3 p.m with loud music and locals drinking and eating We moved the next day closer to the town center to Carcassonne B&B They shared some recommendations for restaurants and museums and suggested we look at Narbonne as it is closer to the Mediterranean and only a short train ride away to Les Halles for lunch and to get the lowdown on living in Narbonne Narbonne is a young and growing wine region a huge underground warehouse that serviced the Narbonne port until the estuary filled with silt and ended the value of the harbor in the 15th century The Canal de la Robine leads to the Gulf of Lion at Port la Nouvelle We made new friends at lunch and they told us they rented their two-bedroom condo for $730 a month and older condos in midtown could be found for even less Narbonne’s history was somewhat understated We toured the Cathedral Saint- Just et Saint-Pasteur connected to the Palais des Archeveques at the center of Narbonne and documents here than one could absorb in a couple of hours Although there are several museums worthy of a visit in Narbonne we spent our time walking the Canal de la Robine We also enjoyed looking out at the leisure boats in the canal and imagining the short ride to the Gulf of Lion We found Narbonne comfortable and a possibility for our retirement The weather in Narbonne was better than Carcassonne and the proximity to the Mediterranean much more attractive the cost of living in Narbonne was also less We did not expect that Nice in its cosmopolitan splendor would be a place where we would want to settle in easy walking distance from the train station It was a small nine-room hotel run by the owner Gerard gave us directions to all the neighborhoods that he thought would be nice for a retired couple and provided a list of all the sights to see Seafood dominates and we followed Gerald’s suggestion for a great restaurant called Spity After lunch we walked to the Russian Church a popular tourist site with lots of history During our three days in Nice we also toured the famous flower market We found the old town a fascinating blend of International restaurants—worth the walk if only to smell the dishes cooking We found some apartments that would have been perfect for us along Victor Hugo Boulevard in the $1,100 price range Perhaps it is better suited for the three-day tourist than the long-term retiree Eze is a charming village perched high above the Mediterranean Sea the oldest building is the Chapelle de la Saints Croix and restaurants at every turn of its cobbled alleyways Hotels cater to the rich and famous with views that are incredible We investigated having lunch at one of the finest restaurants in the village called Chateau de la Chevre d'Or and figured we could have a glass of wine each with a goats cheese salad and bread for $280 We thought better of it and walked down the hill to Gascogne Café for a $16 special of the day we decided to follow the suggestion of our hotel owner and find the cemetery and the secret corridor to the back of the cemetery overlooking the Monaco coast but couldn’t imagine a more peaceful place to reside watching the rich and famous come and go that your tram ticket bought for the tram in Nice can be used for the bus to Eze if used within an hour after exiting the tram The city of 1,000 fountains became the capital of Provence in the 12th century We came to Aix en Provence for the weather and its location to cities and villages such as Avignon We stayed in a small one-bedroom apartment 100 yards from the Musee Granet we enjoyed an impressive collection of the artist Cézanne Paul Cézanne was born in Aix en Provence and his studio is not far from town Aix en Provence is more famous for its dry rose wines and Provençal food than its architecture We were only two blocks from Cours Mirabeau full of great restaurants and every Tuesday and Saturday a famous market full of fresh cheese Provence’s food is so different from any other place in France and is thought to be the origin of the niçoise salad the food seems closer to Italian cuisine than of France Aix in Provence is a modern city with the most upscale Apple store we have ever seen and shopping malls within walking distance of old town Exploring old town was an incredible journey We found restaurants from every country in the world We did see a couple of apartments in the old town that were very modest but livable in the $620 to $840 range and in the latter case it included utilities The University of Aix-Marseille has consolidated with the University of the Mediterranean to become the largest student population of all the Universities in France We visited the linguistics department and found an array of language classes including French for foreigners The French University system is largely tuition-free if you qualify and the thought of taking a French class in France was very appealing Our stay in Aix en Provence lasted five days We could have spent much more time exploring the surrounding area and plan on our next trip to include Chateau du Pape Aix en Provence ticked all the boxes for us We will return during the wine harvest in September to explore even more Moving to France Will Be the Best Move You’ve Ever Made An Overview of Traditions and Culture in France Enjoy Traveling in France to See Some of Europe’s Finest Sites Appease the spirits of tormented souls together in the upcoming board game spin-off title The next entry in the beloved family board game series Fog Over Carcassonne transports players not to a medieval French countryside – as in the original title – but to a haunted land that’s currently being terrorised by angry ghosts A curtain of mist has spread across the hills and valleys unleashing the fury of the spirits that dwell inside it Players will need to use the various locations and landmarks that they can construct around them in order to quell the ghost’s anger and save the locals Fog Over Carcassonne will be the first co-op board game in the series seeing the players collaborating together instead of competing against each other Rather than laying down the traditional fields in Fog Over Carcassonne players will be attempting to construct cemeteries – in which to contain the restless spirits – and haunted castles in order to survive the onslaught of ghosts spreading across the land during which they’ll need to contain as many of them as possible (With the ghosts appearing as little semi-transparent meeples.) If the group manages to make it through three days without getting overwhelmed by ghosts Fog Over Carcassonne was designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, the creator of the original Carcassonne as well as many of the game’s various expansions and spin-off titles including the Carcassonne: Expansion 1 – Inns & Cathedrals, the Stone Age themed Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and even a Star Wars themed board game version of Carcassonne German studio Hans im Glück is set to release Fog Over Carcassonne with the English language version of Carcassonne and its various expansions and spin-off titles being published by Z-Man Games the company responsible for releasing co-op board game Pandemic and A Feast for Odin The original Carcassonne was released in 2000 and has two to five players attempting to earn the most points by collectively building a French countryside players take turns to draw and place a tile – which must be adjacent to an already placed tile and connect with whatever is shown on that tile – in order to then place an appropriate meeples on the area just created cities feature knights and fields hold farmers with the player scoring points for the finished area the game ends and the players count-up their point totals Fog Over Carcassonne is yet to receive a release date or retail price with an English language version as of yet unannounced Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study Dress up like Jon Lindemann. This is where you can find the NWR Forum Rules and where we'll make important announcements about the Forum itself and Nintendo's other consoles and handhelds here Give us feedback about the site or these forums Any questions for Forum Moderators belong here Discuss anything not necessarily gaming related here When both Discord channels are busy you can have your conversation here Moderator: BeautifulShy This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Ever wondered where the Decanter team go on holiday Our in-house team recommend where to eat and drink Whenever I travel to the Languedoc I tend to stay in the Minervois a sub region in the foothills of the Montagne Noire; a garrigue-infused limestone and clay landscape bejewelled with small characterful villages The diversity of this region’s wine and food is boundless and it never disappoints so below are just a handful of recommendations vibrant and fun wine bar in the heart of medieval Caunes-Minervois Offering an ever-changing selection of tapas-style small plates in their shaded outdoor space it is open every day and evening in summer The extensive wine list shows the very best of local organic biodynamic and minimal intervention producers dotted with gems from further afield at very reasonable prices Syrah blend “Jour de Vigne” from Domaine Cazaban with the fried aubergines Or the juicy “Roug’ É Clair” from Corbières-based Domaine Ledogar with the burrata salad The staff and proprietor Benjamin Taillandier are knowledgeable and always happy to give recommendations Starting out as a place for a group of great friends to drink real wine it really is difficult to stay away from this place +33 7 67 54 94 67 lacantineducure@gmail.com www.lacantineducure.wixsite.com/caunesminervois An hour’s drive from Carcassonne and set on the very edge of the pink-tinged salt pans (pictured top) this outdoor restaurant is the place to come for the freshest fish and shellfish There is an excited buzz as giant seafood platters come whistling out the kitchen and seagulls whirl across the bay Between the medieval walled city and the charismatic lower town lies this unassuming cave à vin on Rue du Pont Vieux in Carcassonne artisanal and local producers and discover interesting wines that are often organic A wonderful bar in which to have a pre-dinner snack and glass of wine or to while away summer evenings with plates of locally sourced charcuterie and cheese +33 4 68 26 39 63 cavelachepaslagrappe@yahoo.fr A trip to Carcassonne is not complete without a visit to the Saturday market Head there early in the morning to avoid the crowds and buy the beautifully fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season especially when the asparagus are ready in April and May the strawberries are out in June or the cherries are abundant in June and July Once the shopping is complete bag the best seat in the house at the charming and relaxed café Chez Felix sit and watch the world go by and spy locals stocking up for a long weekend lunch To get a real insight for the wine and food of the Languedoc and if you do not have a car to visit wineries yourself it is great fun to do an organised wine tour I have been on the Minervois tour with Vin en Vacances and whether you are a wine novice or an expert it is a wholesome The small team of wine guides are engaging and dynamic and have a deep passionate knowledge of the region and its wines and the day was filled with laughter +44 (0)7880 796786 www.vinenvacances.com  I have lived most of my life in this patch of earth – Fishbourne the scrubland is thrumming with colour – orchids yellow gorse and the silver underside of leaves Long shaded roads up into the mountains as you cross from Aude into Ariège beneath Napoleon’s marching trees The green shade of the ancient woodlands of Puivert and Rennes-les-Bains CarcossoneGetty ImagesAt this time of year Landscape is the beginning of everything I write Time and place are kissing cousins to plot and character The conviction that a particular story can only happen in a particular place of our lived experiences and of those who have walked the same paths before us is held in the land – the stones and the riverbanks the turn on a stone step leading up to a quiet marker square in a village the mournful tolling of the bell marking the quartered hour in the heat of the day Because serendipity and good fortune took me to Carcassonne 30 years ago So a return each year to Languedoc in spring is both a pilgrimage and a pleasure Any glancing sight spied from the window of the train might be the beginning of a story: an odd obelisk set on a hill there’s always a sense of homecoming and rejuvenation being back in a beloved place Like this? Now read:The 12 prettiest villages in France The 13 prettiest villages in FranceGallery13 SlidesBy Lanie GoodmanView SlideshowIs this the most secluded hideaway in the South of France? Is this the most secluded hideaway in the South of France?Plage Palace: the hotel to know in the South of France German publisher also releases single-player variant for Hadara The publisher also released solo rules for recent release Hadara with the single-player mode for last year’s civilisation-building board game introducing an AI player to compete against If you want to play with the original rules though, don't forget to check out our guide on how to play Carcassonne SubscriptionOffers Give a Gift Subscribe Richard Cavendish marks the anniversary of a great fortress being sacked Nest after buzzing nest of heresy was smoked out by the Roman Catholic church in 12th and 13th century Europe Cathars and other groups had inherited the dualism of the gnostic sects of Christianity’s earliest days who believed that the material world was evil created and controlled by a great malignant power The Church accused them of worshipping this power of evil known as Albigensians after the city of Albia were admired and protected by many of the local lords Pope Innocent III called on him to wipe the heresy out and sent a legate who was murdered the day after an angry meeting with Count Raymond The count did not punish him and was generally believed to have been involved in the killing The pope now proclaimed a crusade against the Albigensians and called on the warriors of France to avenge the legate’s death: ‘Forward Go forth with the Church’s cry of anguish ringing in your ears!’ was put in charge of recruitment and an army of barons and knights from northern France who saw prospects of rich pickings for themselves in the lands of the conquered southern French lords the main crusading force had assembled at Lyon estimates it at about 10,000 fighting men with another 10,000 or so camp followers and non-combatants joined by the outwardly repentant Count Raymond headed south for the area around Albi and the lands of Raymond-Roger Trencavel Viscount of Béziers and Count Raymond’s nephew He tried to negotiate terms with them but Arnald-Amaury sent him packing the crusaders reached the city of Béziers and demanded its surrender the citizens attempted a sortie against the besiegers They were driven off by some of the camp followers with clubs and tent poles The city’s defenders panicked and the crusading warriors were able to press in through the gates The city’s inhabitants were slaughtered without distinction of age when asked how the Catholic citizens could be distinguished from the Cathars: ‘Kill them all God will recognise His own.’ After being thoroughly looted the city was set on fire and burned to the ground The victorious crusaders marched on westwards to Carcassonne which their main body reached on August 1st It was much more strongly fortified than Béziers and more bravely defended with Raymond-Roger Trencavel himself in command but its weakness was that it was some way from the River Aude and dependent for water on deep wells within the walls It was also full of panicking refugees from the surrounding area who were well aware of what had happened at Béziers The crusaders soon cut off the defenders’ access to the river despite a fierce sortie led against them by Raymond-Roger They tried to scale the walls on August 4th but were driven back with heavy casualties They offered extremely harsh terms for surrender in return for which Raymond-Roger and 11 companions would be allowed to leave unharmed with as many of their possessions as they could carry The offer was rejected and the siege continued Morale in the city was ebbing away steadily as the wells dried up in the continuing heat but the crusaders did not want to destroy Carcassonne as they had Béziers what would be left for whichever of them took over the city the lives of its inhabitants would be spared provided they walked out wearing nothing but their shirts and breeches Raymond-Roger and nine of his subordinates were given safe conduct to discuss the terms with the besiegers and accepted them Raymond-Roger was seized and chained up (he died in mysterious circumstances in his own prison a few weeks later The next day Carcassonne surrendered and the citizens left as agreed in the words of the crusade’s accompanying Cistercian chronicler Many other towns surrendered without a fight but some resisted the crusaders and the struggle continued for years Pope Innocent died in 1216 and Count Raymond in 1218 King Louis VIII of France led another crusade in 1226 and the Inquisition established itself in Toulouse in 1229 Yet it was not until 1244 that the great Cathar stronghold of Montségur in the Pyrenees was finally captured and destroyed and the Albigensian heresy of southern France was at last wiped out A new board game takes the blueprint of Carcassonne and makes a more meatier version of the classic tile-laying title Gnome Hollow is an upcoming board game that sees two to four players cultivating mushrooms and wild flowers in order to trade with other gnomes family-friendly setting of a fantastical gnomish kingdom Gnome Hollow takes the basics of popular tile-laying games such as Carcassonne and Kingdomino and elevates them with additional gameplay mechanics and a more complicated gameplay system The family board game has players taking the role of gnomish caretakers of the natural world emerging from their underground dwellings in order to cultivate the ‘fairy rings’ of mushrooms native to the area Players will be competing against each other in order to grow and harvest the most mushrooms This is done by placing tiles into the gnome garden before moving their gnomes in order to take actions players will grow more mushrooms - with the aim of cultivating rings of mushrooms to be harvested Once players have created a ring of mushrooms carry them to the market and sell for various valuable treasures Whilst smaller rings of mushrooms will net players smaller rewards by growing larger rings they’ll be able to exchange their harvest for an even greater reward Growing mushroom rings will also gain players bonuses that they can use to unlock new gameplay options and improve their strategic opportunities Further developing the garden can unearth signpost spaces that - when they’re placed within a ring - become spots for players to place their gnomes to carry out unique actions Players can also use wildflowers to fill in empty spaces in their mushroom rings - once a wildflower is planted anyone can visit it and acquire a wildflower token to use for their own growing efforts Whichever player has the most valuable collection of treasure is named the winner Gnome Hollow was designed by Ammon Anderson, the creator behind the party board game T.A.C.O.: Taunt Obsess - a game in which players must build tacos in order to score points - and Twinkle Twinkle in which players build a deep-space star chart Anderson is also the owner of Gnome Hollow co-publisher Levity Games with the title being co-published by The Op The release date for Gnome Hollow is set for Q3 2024 sometime around the Gen Con convention in late July/early August.