Carcassonne

The largest medieval walled city in Europe, 3 km of double rampart and 52 towers on 11 hectares, UNESCO since 1997. Cobbled streets and public courtyards open to leashed dogs at any hour; avoid midday in summer when the cobbles reach 45 °C.

12th-century citadel at the heart of La Cité, restored by Viollet-le-Duc. Leashed dogs admitted in the outer courtyards and on the lower section of the rampart walk; indoor museum rooms and upper covered wall walks reserved for assistance dogs only.

14th-century pedestrian bridge crossing the Aude between La Cité and the Bastide Saint-Louis, offering the best vantage point onto the citadel's silhouette. Flat, open to leashed dogs at any hour; magical at sunset.

Pierre-Paul Riquet's 17th-century canal (UNESCO 1996) crosses Carcassonne; the towpath is flat and shaded by century-old plane trees between the train station and the Foucaud lock. Leashed dogs share the path with cyclists; hard-packed earth is paw-friendly.

40-hectare leisure lake 5 km east of the city, with a 4.5 km loop under pines and oaks. Dogs banned from the three supervised beaches between 1 June and 15 September, but the wooded east bank stays open year-round for dog swims.

Four 12th–13th-century ruined Cathar castles perched on a rocky spur in the Montagne Noire, 20 km north of Carcassonne. Entirely outdoor, leashed dogs admitted inside the ruins; the 1.5 km access path is steep but partly shaded.