Ferrières-en-Gâtinais, France
12th century
Nice, France
15th century
Metz, France
13th century
Munster, France
660 AD
Sorde-l'Abbaye, France
10th century AD
Arles, France
963 AD
Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, France
c. 1050
Saint-Gilles, France
7th century
Le Thoronet, France
1176
La Sauve, France
1079
Asnières-sur-Oise, France
1228-1235
Saint-Martin-de-Boscherville, France
1113
Soissons, France
1076
Trois-Fontaines-l'Abbaye, France
1118
Gaillac, France
972 AD
Caen, France
1062
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, France
640 AD
Gruchet-le-Valasse, France
1150
Saint-Hilaire, France
8th century
Île Saint-Honorat, France
410 AD
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.