6 Epic Walled Cities That You Must Visit (2 of 3)

Kaltar Minaret, Sky, Cloud, Building

3. Khiva, Uzbekistan

For most of its 30 years as an independent country, this former Soviet Republic was very difficult to get into. But these days, most of the western world can visit without requiring a visa. When you do visit Uzbekistan, you have no excuses for not visiting Khiva, featuring the inner town of Itchan Kala that was first walled off in the 10th century to protect it from invaders. As a result, more than a thousand years later the ancient monuments within are still in good shape. The houses themselves aren’t as old, the best-preserved ones only dating back to the 19th century.

Carcassonne France, Plant, Building, Natural landscape, Urban design

4. Carcasonne, France

Located in the province of Languedoc in the south of France, Carcasonne is a must-see destination for history buffs. Settled 1,600 years ago by the Visigoths and fortified by the Romans, the city is incredibly well-preserved for being so old. Naturally, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Are you looking for towers? Drawbridges? Battlements? Castles? Carcasonne has you covered! When you visit, you definitely need to walk along the River Aude. There are lots of quaint villages nearby, amazing cuisine, and a lot of things to do. Why not rent a bike and spend the day exploring it all?