On September 26, nearly 90 Aude Department staff members embarked on a unique collective adventure inspired by a famous television show: the Unesco Express. A cultural and sporting challenge conceived by the local authority’s internal communications department to (re)discover the Royal Fortresses of Languedoc, heritage jewels vying for inscription on the Unesco World Heritage list.

A Sporting, Convivial, and Meaningful Adventure

Divided into 18 teams representing all assistant general directorates, the participants set off in the morning from the Departmental Headquarters in Carcassonne, ready to take on all challenges!

Three routes were therefore offered, all converging towards two mythical sites: Peyrepertuse Castle and Quéribus Castle. Throughout the course, the teams had to solve riddles, find markers, and complete several sporting challenges. Five riddles, five stages, and one single objective: to promote the Unesco candidacy of the Royal Fortresses of Languedoc.

The day was also an opportunity for participants to meet local producers, artisans, and businesses, who, like them, are ambassadors for the Unesco candidacy.

The Staff, Primary Ambassadors of the Unesco Candidacy

More than just a challenge, the Unesco Express allowed each participant to become, for a day, an ambassador for the candidacy of the Royal Fortresses of Languedoc. Through their enthusiasm, curiosity, and team spirit, they embodied the values of commitment and cohesion that constitute the strength of the Department.

Between moments of sharing, personal achievement, and cultural discovery, this experience will remain a significant memory for many — that of a day where work is synonymous with passion and collective action finds its full meaning!