Castres, France
1840
Ouistreham, France
1944
Amboise, France
Bourges, France
1951
Antibes, France
17th century
Nice, France
1973
Bourges, France
Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France
1944
Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France
1952
Montauban, France
1854
Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
1960
Auch, France
1793
Toulon, France
1814
Saumur, France
1834
Nice, France
1878
Angers, France
1175
Toulouse, France
1893
Saint-Malo, France
16th century
Angers, France
1849
Châteaumeillant, France
1961
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.