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Founded: 13th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)
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Schloss Wittringen, also known as Haus Wittringen, is a moated castle in the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Gladbeck on the south-western edge of the Wittringen leisure centre. Its roots go back to the 13th century.
Once a knight's seat of the Vest Recklinghausen, it has seen many different owners over the course of its history, including the von Brabeck, von Oeffte and von Vittinghoff-Schell families. Today, the estate is owned by the town and is home to a museum and a restaurant. It has been a listed building since 1984
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.