France
Carcassonne Castle, France: Fortress Ruined & Reborn
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007Legend tells how Carcassonne got its name: Charlemagne was besieging the city. The citizens were starving and near surrender. Then a clever lady, Madame Carcas, had an idea. The citizens stuffed a fat pig with the last grain and heaved it over the wall. The besieging army, amazed and frustrated, went home. Madame Carcas then rang, or sonned, the bells in celebration. Charlemagne was defeated, the city was saved, and Carcassonne got its name, all at one stroke.