Riomaggiore, Italy
11th century
Monreale, Italy
1172-1267
Palermo, Italy
1143
Syracuse, Italy
7th century AD
Rome, Italy
311-314 AD
Palermo, Italy
1185
Turin, Italy
1645
Tivoli, Italy
Italian Renaissance (1550)
Caserta, Italy
1752
Matera, Italy
7000 BCE
Verona, Italy
1354
Monterosso al Mare, Italy
11th century
Rome, Italy
1583
Cefalù, Italy
1131-1240
Rome, Italy
6th century BC
Piazza Armerina, Italy
4th century AD
Verona, Italy
0-100 AD
Vernazza, Italy
11th century
Milan, Italy
1463
Verona, Italy
100 BC
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.