The nanocasting concept was used for the preparation of mesoporous carbides via infiltration of mesoporous silica (SBA-15 and MCM-48) with SiC precursors, their conversion into SiC, and subsequent dissolution of the oxide matrix. Ordered mesoporous SiC with high specific surface area (800 m²g^-1) was obtained using polymer precursor melt infiltration, whereas chemical vapour infiltration results in the formation of disordered high surface area SiC.