The earliest records of Albu manor date back to 1282, making it the oldest order manor in Järva County and one of the oldest in the whole of Estonia. The renovations carried out between 1995 and 2000 uncovered some beautiful paintings and sections of building from the 14th century.
The current manor was constructed between 1742 and 1748 when Count Gustav Otto Douglas resigned his post as governor of Estonia and retired in Albu. A school has operated out of the manor since 1921. It presently houses Albu Basic School. For the last seven summers the manor has put on exhibitions of a number of different artists. It is open to all visitors in summer from Wednesday-Sunday 12.00 pm-6.00 pm. In the autumn and spring period it is advised to make a booking to visit the manor.
Reference: Manor.ee
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.