Évreux, France
10th century
Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
1345
Angers, France
1060-1119
Hambye, France
c. 1145
Ille-et-Vilaine, France
1199
Laon, France
1124
Laon, France
1128
Ginals, France
1144
Saint-Gabriel-Brécy, France
1058
Beaucaire, France
9th century
Villefranche-de-Rouergue, France
1451
Redon, France
832 AD
Saint-Omer, France
7th century AD
Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, France
1121
Passa, France
1116
Juaye-Mondaye, France
1200
Sablonceaux, France
1136
Moyenmoutier, France
671 AD / 1776
Mont-Saint-Éloi, France
600-700 AD
Arboussols, France
1129
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.