St. Gallen, Switzerland
747 AD
Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
1007
Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland
1606
Appenzell, Switzerland
1420
Romainmôtier-Envy, Switzerland
450 AD
Interlaken, Switzerland
12th century
Einsiedeln, Switzerland
10th century AD
Payerne, Switzerland
950-960 AD
Schaffhausen, Switzerland
1049
Zug, Switzerland
1595
Val Müstair, Switzerland
c. 775 AD
Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland
1090-1097
Rheinau, Switzerland
778 AD
Disentis-Mustér, Switzerland
8th century AD
Warth, Switzerland
1150
Windisch, Switzerland
1308
Schwyz, Switzerland
1275
Stans, Switzerland
1583
Fischingen, Switzerland
1138
Weesen, Switzerland
1256
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.