A novel approach is presented for the integration of highly aligned carbon nanotubes in ceramic alumina layers perpendicular to the tube axes. A template method is used to form carbon nanotubes by a noncatalytic chemical vapor deposition inside the pores of porous alumina before consequent thermal treatment of the resulting composite on the frontal surface. The thermal treatment leads to a well-defined layered phase transition accompanied by heterogeneous etching behavior of the alumina phases. Almost freestanding carbon nanotubes sandwiched in facial-oriented corundum layers are obtained after removal of the soluble phases. These ceramic layers drastically improve the handling and stability of highly aligned carbon nanotubes.