Como, Italy
1120
Palermo, Italy
1678
Palermo, Italy
1490-1520
Turin, Italy
1814
Catania, Italy
1708-1763
Rome, Italy
4th century AD
Milan, Italy
13th century
Erice, Italy
14th century
Palermo, Italy
1598
Venice, Italy
1715-1728
Castelsardo, Italy
1597
Turin, Italy
1692
Erice, Italy
1070
Salerno, Italy
1076-1084
Trapani, Italy
1421
Pompei, Italy
1891
Gallipoli, Italy
1629-1696
Milan, Italy
1075
Ravello, Italy
11th century
Sant'Ambrogio di Torino, Italy
10th century AD
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.