Located in the historic centre of the city, the former Bank of Portugal building has housed the Costume Museum since 2004. Here you can appreciate the ethnographic wealth of the traditional costumes of Viana. The exhibits also include the tools used to produce the handmade garments, alongside the permanent exhibitions A lã e o linho no traje do Alto Minho (Wool and linen in Alto Minho garments), Traje à Vianesa (Viana’s traditional dress) and Oficina do Ouro (Gold Workshop).
The Costume Museum organises a great many temporary exhibitions on the theme of Viana’s traditional dress and ethnography.
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.