The Barbican, the 15th century bastion with a circular floor plan used to belong to the wall system of the Bishop's Castle. Its construction is linked to the visit of General Pál Kinizsi, who came to the town in 1498. In the shadow of the Turkish threat the defence systems of castles and towns were strengthened all around the South. The Gothic-style gate tower was built in the 15th century at the western corner of the high castle wall. The Barbican is a round gate tower sitting on a narrow column. Its back gate served a specific purpose: it enabled the defenders to attack the attacking enemy getting in the gate from the side. The Barbican is surrounded with the remains of the castle ditch and you can walk up to the entrance on the old drawbridge. The pulleys of the drawbridge are still displayed inside.
There is a fantastic view opening towards the town from the top of the bastion. You can walk along the machicolation (the wooden walkway) on the top of the Barbican.
After defence structures became obsolete during the 18th-19th century, similarly to other parts of the town, houses were built around the castle wall. The buildings that were built along the castle walls were demolished in the 1960s making the old Barbican as well as other parts of the wall free and visible again.
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.