In Troubadour-Land by Sabine Baring-Gould

The fortifications of Trets -- The streets -- The church -- Roman sarcophagus -- Château of Trets -- Visit to a self-educated archeologist -- His collection made on the battle-field -- Dispute over a pot of burnt bones -- One magpie -- Gardanne -- The church -- A vielle -- Trouble with it -- Story of an executioner's sword.

Trets is an odd little place, surrounded by its ancient walls and towers, and with its gates -- but, oh! if anyone would know what a cramped, unwholesome place one of these old medieval burghs was, let him visit Trets. The streets are some four and some five feet across; in threading them you pass under a succession of archways, for every house desiring more space has thrust forth a couple of storeys over the street, sustained by an arch. The exhalations from the dirt-heaps, the foulness of every house, the general condition of tumble-down, compose a something to make a sanitary officer's hair stand on end. But it is very wonderful. Carcassonne is marvellous, but this is Carcassonne seen through a diminishing glass.