One of the books I am currently reading is ‘The Perfect Heresy: The Life and Death of the Cathars‘ by Stephen O’Shea. At the beginning of the chapter on Carcassonne there is a perfect description of what I saw and how I felt when I caught my first fleeting glimpse of Carcassonne as I traveled from Toulouse airport:
TO APPROACH CARCASSONNE for the first time is to dream with your eyes open. the turrets and bastions of the old city stand on a deceptive rise in the valley of the River Aude, so the crenelated citadel appears suddenly, floating in the middle distance, a visitor from another time. The tan stone blocks of the ramparts turn auburn, then mauve in the late afternoon sun.
The tan stone blocks of the ramparts turn auburn
Poetic.
Yes it is
and so is the rest of the quote. The view it mentions is poetic too. An amazing place 
What a great photo–the purple thistle in front (which is crystal clear) and the old stone wall and tower in the background make a lovely scene. Sound like a place with great history. Mickie
Thanks Mickie
It was a very picturesque and very interesting place to visit.
Your photos always have a great way to revive history.
Thank you Claude
…but you had me at the thistle, Cherry. It’s one of my favorite “plants.”
I am glad I made your morning