Details
Founded: 1728Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: The Age of Enlightenment (Finland)
User Reviews
The present Sottunga church was built in 1728 to replace older one, which was burnt down in the Great Northern War. Since then the church has been renovated several times, most recently in 1974. Today Sottunga church is smallest wooden church in Finland.
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.