La Grand Puit (The Big Well), Carcassonne
Carcassonne has 22 wells. But the most intriguing is le Grand Puit, The big well. This is the oldest and the most mysterious. The borders of the well date from the 14th century. The columns and fittings are Renaissance.
There is a legend of hidden treasure. The Visigoths, frightened by the approach of Attila, secreted the treasure of King Solomon in the big well. From time to time someone looks in but so far no treasure. Maybe Attila got it after all. Also this begs the question, how did the Visigoths get Solomon's treasure?
The wells of Carcassonne are siege wells often found in fortified towns or fortresses. They are usually very deep and of enormous capacity. Since the wells were always within strong walls, they could not be poisoned or otherwise destroyed by an enemy. The wells were very pricey to install. The cost could rival the cost of the castle.
The oldest well in Carcassonne is 131 feet deep. The mouth of the well measures 13 feet across. With all the tales of ghosts of crusaders and Visigoths and treasure it sometimes is a temptation to look over the edge.
There is a legend of hidden treasure. The Visigoths, frightened by the approach of Attila, secreted the treasure of King Solomon in the big well. From time to time someone looks in but so far no treasure. Maybe Attila got it after all. Also this begs the question, how did the Visigoths get Solomon's treasure?
The wells of Carcassonne are siege wells often found in fortified towns or fortresses. They are usually very deep and of enormous capacity. Since the wells were always within strong walls, they could not be poisoned or otherwise destroyed by an enemy. The wells were very pricey to install. The cost could rival the cost of the castle.
The oldest well in Carcassonne is 131 feet deep. The mouth of the well measures 13 feet across. With all the tales of ghosts of crusaders and Visigoths and treasure it sometimes is a temptation to look over the edge.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Carcassonne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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La Grand Puit (The Big Well) on Map
Sight Name: La Grand Puit (The Big Well)
Sight Location: Carcassonne, France (See walking tours in Carcassonne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Carcassonne, France (See walking tours in Carcassonne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Carcassonne, France
Create Your Own Walk in Carcassonne
Creating your own self-guided walk in Carcassonne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Medieval City of Carcassonne Walking Tour
A pig full of wheat was thrown off the battlements. The lady commanding the fortress was a Muslim. The besieging Christians knew Muslims do not eat pig. What is more, the defenders must have plenty of food if they could feed wheat to a pig and throw it over the walls. The siege had lasted five years. The attackers were starving. They left.
Many stories are told about the fortified medieval... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Many stories are told about the fortified medieval... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Carcassonne Introduction Walking Tour
Nestled in the picturesque region of Occitanie in southern France is the captivating city of Carcassonne.
The name "Carcassonne" is believed to have originated from the Gallic word "Carsac," referring to a fort settlement that was later fortified by the Romans who occupied the area in the 1st century BC.
A legend suggests another, more colorful version of the name,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
The name "Carcassonne" is believed to have originated from the Gallic word "Carsac," referring to a fort settlement that was later fortified by the Romans who occupied the area in the 1st century BC.
A legend suggests another, more colorful version of the name,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles