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‘The path down to the barbican was steep and rocky. It ran between the two high, protective wooden palisade walls and it was hard to see anything. But Alaïs had taken this route out of the Cité many times, knew every dip and rise of the land, and she climbed down without difficulty.’
In the top right hand corner of the Place Saint-Gimer, is a long, steep cobbled ramp, signposted Grande Caponière. The Château Comtal, built into the western fortifications of the Cité, looms above you. Look up at the distinctive Tour Pinte watchtower – some 28 metres high – which points like a finger to the sky and belongs to the earliest phase of building of the Château. Taking it slowly, climb to the top of the ramp. Turn sharp left, then right, doubling back on yourself between the two sets of walls in the space between the outer and inner ring, known as the Lices.
Just before you go through the Porte d’Aude into the heart of the Cité itself, turn and look away northwest through the battlements. The flat land of Lauragais stretches before you towards Toulouse. The Montagne Noire National Park is to the right. Further west – if you are lucky – in winter and spring you will see the snow-capped Pyrenees. The Pic de Soularac – the site of the Labyrinth cave – is one of the highest you can see.