Rome, Italy
270-273
Genoa, Italy
1551
Meran, Italy
1899
Verona, Italy
1393
Trieste, Italy
1470
Turin, Italy
1st century AD
Grignano, Italy
1856-1860
Malcesine, Italy
13th century
Erice, Italy
10-11th century AD
Taranto, Italy
1496
Villafranca di Verona, Italy
1199
Otranto, Italy
1228
Castelmola, Italy
10th century AD
Castelsardo, Italy
12th century
Bari, Italy
1132
Ischia, Italy
474 BCE
Trento, Italy
13th century
Portofino, Italy
1554
Lecce, Italy
1548
Lecce, Italy
1539
The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.