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Last updated: September 25, 2026

Sete Cruise Excursion to Carcassonne (private)

Description Summary

An Idyllic Private Full Day Trip from Sète Cruise Port to Medieval Carcassonne classified Unesco World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the Cité, free time fore personal discovery & lunch. End with a wine tasting session.

Highlights

  • ✓Explore the famous Castle & Ramparts of Carcassonne
  • ✓Visit Saint Nazaire Basilica
  • ✓Wine tasting in a Languedoc Winery

Description

Capture The Best Of Carcassonne on this Full Day Private Shore Excursion from Sète 

Carcassonne looks like some fairy-tale medieval city. Bathed in late-afternoon sunshine and highlighted by dark clouds, La Cité, as the old walled city is known, is truly breathtaking. The visit of the Basilica with its outstanding stained-glass windows is a must. 

Program & Itinerary :
 
Pick up at Sète Cruise Port Terminal

- Guided Walking tour of Carcassonne
- Free time in Carcassonne for personal discovery and lunch (at own expense)
- Wine tasting in a selected Winery
 
Drop off at Sete Cruise Port Terminal
Pick up at your Cruise Ship in Sète

From Sète Cruise Port depart for a full day private tour to the fortified city of Carcassonne one of the most famous Unesco World Heritage Sites of the region. On this full day trip to Carcassonne, we will first come and pick you up at your Ship located in Sète. Meet your English speaking driver who will go over the itinerary and program of the day with you.

Then you will board your air-conditioned vehicle and it will be time to drive off to this day’s destination. The drive from Sète to the medieval town & Cité of Carcassonne is 1 hour and a half. As you drive, admire the Languedoc region landscape with its rolling hills, fields of bright yellow sunflowers and of course the Canal du Midi that you will follow until Carcassonne. This full day tour also enables you to take in some panoramic views of the area especially as you pass the Alaric mountain range.

Visit the Walled Town of Carcassonne – La Cité

A bit of History

The oldest traces of mankind - 6th century B.P - were found on the promontory where the now medieval Cité lies. Around 300 B.P, the Volques Tectosages brought the Iberians of Languedoc to submission.

In 122 B.P, the Romans conquered the Provence and the Languedoc regions of France. They fortified the oppidum which took the name of Carcaso and occupied our region until the middle of the 5th century. The Visigoths then became the masters of Spain and the Languedoc. The Cité remained in their hands from 460 to 725 A.D. In the spring of 725, the Saracens took the Cité. 

They were driven away in 759 by Pépin le Bref, king of the Franks. After the death of Charlemagne, the dismembering of the Empire gave birth to the feudal system. It was under the dynasty of the Trencavels, from 1082 to 1209, that the town began to gain tremendous influence.

During this prosperous period, Catharism grew rapidly. Raymond Roger Trencavel, vicomte of Carcassonne (1194-1209) both tolerated and protected the heretics on his own lands. He suffered the first impact of the crusade preached by Pope Innocent III and on August 15th, 1209, after a two-week siege, it was all over. The Cité and the lands of Trencavel were first handed to the military commander of the crusade, Simon de Montfort, then to the King of France in 1224.

As the Cité made its entry into the Royal Estate, its destiny took a new turn. Under the successive reigns of Louis IX, Philippe Le Hardi and Philippe Le Bel, it grew its modern-day shape. A new borough was born on the left bank in 1262: La Bastide Saint-Louis. Set on fire by the Black Prince in 1355, it was immediately rebuilt. While this new town was bustling with activity, the Cité consolidated its role as a royal fortress.

But due to the use of new war techniques (gunpowder, cannon) and above all to the recession of the Franco-Spanish border in 1659 after the Peace of the Pyrénées, it was gradually abandoned. In the 18th century, the Cité was little more than a slum, a poverty-stricken, outlying area in a town made wealthy by the wine trade and the cloth manufacturing industry.

Only through the joint efforts of Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille, a historian and a citizen of Carcassonne, of Mérimée and the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc was it saved from demolition. Thousands of people today are able to see and admire the most accomplished fortified town in Europe.

Visit of Carcassonne with your licensed tour guide

Reach the cité de Carcassonne that looks like some fairy-tale medieval city. Bathed in late-afternoon sunshine and highlighted by dark clouds, La Cité, as the old walled city is known, is truly breathtaking. The fortress is the largest remaining fortified city in Europe. Follow your guide as you listen to the local stories and legends and be amazed by its old stones and its history.

Follow the ramparts with your guide, to get a feel of the medieval beauty of the biggest fortified city then stroll through the narrow streets lined with shops. Reach the Cathedral of Carcassonne. The visit of the Saint Nazaire Basilica with its outstanding stained-glass windows that date back to the middle ages is a must. 

Free time for lunch

After your guided walking tour of Carcassonne, enjoy some free time for personal discovery and lunch (at own expense). There is a large choice of restaurants within the Cité so don't hesitate to ask your guide for recommendations. If you are interested in local food, why not try the most popular dish of the region: Cassoulet. This rich, slow-cooked stew contains meat, pork skin and white beans. Bon apétit!

Languedoc Wines tasting session

Upon return to your Cruise Ship, we will make a stop along the way in a carefully selected winery of the region. Here taste the bold red wines and fruity white wines of the region. Depending on the winery visited, you might also taste some Rosé wine as the Languedoc is by far the largest Rosé wine producing region of France.

 After your wine tasting session, we will take you back to Sète and drop you off at your Cruise Ship.

Included / Excluded

  • ✓Pick up and drop off at Cruise Ship in Sète
  • ✓Guided Walking tour of Carcassonne
  • ✓Wine tasting in a selected winery
  • ✓English speaking driver or driver/guide
  • ✓Premium A/C vehicle
  • ✗Wine tasting fees
  • ✗Personal insurance and expenses
  • ✗Gratuities for the guide
  • ✗Meals and drinks

Commentary

Audio • Language: en

Important Information

Know Before You Book

  • Wine tasting fees can be purchased during booking process
  • Prices are per group from 2 to 8 persons - Larger groups, contact us
  • Tour is not wheelchair accessible
  • Entrance fees to Count's Castle can be booked as extra

Know Before You Go

  • Pick up at Cruise Ship at Séte Cruise Terminal
  • English speaking driver or driver/guide
  • Curency is in Euros
  • Good walking shoes are recommended

Cancellation

Cancellation Cutoff: 48 hours

Cancellation Notes: We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund: Up to 72 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 72hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Options and Pricing

Price per one personRETAIL PRICE
Adult€1,400.00
Price per person based two persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based three persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based four persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based five persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based six persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based seven persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request
Price per person based eight persons RETAIL PRICE
Pricing on request

Terms and Conditions

Refund Policy: You must notify us at least 48 hours in advance if your ship cannot dock (due to weather or port changes) to qualify for a refund.

All our terms and conditions can be found here: https://www.ophorus.com/terms-sales

All private shore excursions must clearly specify the name of the ship and the local port of call. Ophorus will not be held responsible if the wrong port of call has been notified during reservation process. Each customer has to check that he or she has the appropriate documents for their journey; a passport (with visa if necessary) or a valid ID card.

No refund will be granted in case of lack or loss of ID documents. Eating, drinking and smoking on board the minivans is strictly forbidden (law of September, 17th, 1977). All passengers are insured during the excursions while in the vans. The responsibility of Ophorus is limited to our insurance contract clauses.

Additional Information

If you want to share your tour with others, you can put it on Cruise Critic. Most of the time this gives good results. You must do this yourself as we are not accepted on their site as a professional business. We accept split payment transactions by credit card.

Voucher Information

Please note: This tour is timed to your ship’s schedule. Your guide will meet you just outside the cruise terminal after disembarkation holding a sign with your name. In case of any last‑minute changes by the cruise line, please check your ship’s daily program and contact us as soon as possible so we can adjust timings accordingly.

Group Information

We can handle any group size (from 8 people) ranging from small groups to larger groups. Transportation options include private vehicles, mini-vans, mini-buses and large buses.

Just get in touch to find out more! Contact us by email: groups@ophorus.com (groups from 8 people)
For groups of 2-8 people please fill out this form: https://ophorus.com/contact-us