Santa María de Toloño is a ruined Spanish monastery located in the Sierra de Toloño near Labastida. Constructed by the Hieronymites, the monastery was destroyed in the First Carlist War and only a few walls remain.
The sanctuary is located in a meadow at 1,201 metres above sea level. It was built by the Hieronymites between the 14th and 15th centuries, and abandoned in 1422 due to harsh weather. Later, it was affiliated with the Hermandad de la Divisa (Brotherhood of the Currency) until the end of 18th century. In 1835, during the First Carlist war, it suffered a fire that left only a part of the Baroque chapel standing.
The building was well-constructed, with church, camarín and sacristía. Its retablo mayor were of white stone. There were 22 rooms, five kitchens, separate rooms for a chaplain, two hermits and a servant, as well as a meeting room for the Divisa.
References: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.