Château de Villers-Châtel, built in the 14th century, belonged to the lord of Gournai during the siege of Arras in 1414. The family Habarcq owned the castle until the middle of the 17th century. After several owners, Nicolas Mazel Leval bought the chateau in 1747 and restored it. During the World War I, the castle was converted into a field hospital.
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.