Hmm, I don't think that it's ever particular said straightforward, but I always imagined it to be just the castle. When the four kings and queens ruled, there wouldn't have been any other humans in Narnia, so there probably wouldn't be a need for a city. When Caspian rebuilt the castle, he might have included a township as well.

I believe it was just a castle. In PC the ruins were on an island and I don't think the island was very huge. But in LB I think there was a city around it mentioned, but not a 100% sure.

In LWW, Cair is described as a castle. In PC, Cair has an orchard that has grown around the ruins of the castle. I don't think there's anything about Cair in VDT. In SC, Cair is again described as a castle, but there is a dock that Caspian's ship leaves from. In HHB, Cair is not described, but it is insinuated that there is a dock that Edmund, Susan, and Corin arrive at. In MN, Cair was not yet built. In LB, it is stated that Cair was conquered and Farsight saw several Narnians fleeing the city.
So, Cair is just a castle until sometime after the reign of King Caspian. So whether or not Cair is a city or a castle depends on when you're story is set.

the book doesn't really say, but I've always just imagined it as a castle alone by it self.....

Well castles in medieval times were often surrounded by a small city that would have been used to stock the castle. Farms would have been planted to provide food, a blacksmith would provide metal goods, etc... If you are writing a fan-fiction, you'll have to say what time period in whic you're writing. According LWW, as well as the artwork provided by Pauline Baynes, during that time, it is nothing but a castle. Going by the artwork, as well as the books, it is probable that Caspian would have built up the castle to a city. So. . . it all depends on when you're writing.

I would assume that in the Last Battle, Cair Paravel has become a city instead of just a castle... and since the Chronicles dont really say and its a fan fiction.. make it however you like

Remember that in LWW, Narnia is inhabited by very few humans- the other creatures do not live in regular cities like humans do. So it was an isolated castle. If it had other residences around, they were not meant to last long- they may have been made out of straw or wood rather than bricks, hehe.

But by PC, things may have changed. And by LB, likely to have changed as well.

In line with what was said above - I think it depends on when you're talking about. It seems to be a castle in LWW but In LB it says that Tirian enjoyed visiting his lodge in the country (where he was staying at the beginning of the storey - chapter 2) and that he enjoyed getting away 'from the pomp of Cair Paravel, the royal city'

I think it was just a city in the Golden Age, but later on, as the human population of Narnia grew, a town probably sprang up around the main castle, like what polly said. But then again, it all depends on what era you're talking about.

~Queeny!

I thought it was just the castle that was a community surrounding all Narnian's and it was every ones home, not just the royals. That's the way I look at it.

if you are writing your own novel, I am sure you can add a town around the castle!

I think that it depends on the time period, I don't think a city was built originally, but it was built sometime in between the reign of Caspian X and that of Tirian.

When you write this fanfic of yours give links. I love fics just as long it isn't Suspian.

When you write this fanfic of yours give links. I love fics just as long it isn't Suspian.

Oh man, do I argee with you on that one!

I had always thought of it as have a small city in or near it, but Its not like New York.

if you are writing your own novel, I am sure you can add a town around the castle!

Don't forget that either!