Château de Foix, Medieval fortress in Foix, France
Three towers of different shapes rise from a limestone rock, forming a triangular structure that overlooks the Ariège valley at 450 meters elevation.
The castle became the center of power for the Counts of Foix in 1002 when Bernard Roger inherited it from his father Roger of Carcassonne.
The fortress served as a refuge for Cathars during the Albigensian Crusade and remained unconquered throughout the religious persecution period.
The castle museum opens daily from 10:00 to 18:30, presenting medieval collections and offering panoramic views across the Pyrenean mountains.
The round tower, added in the 15th century, functioned as a prison until 1862 before transformation into the current departmental museum.
Location: Foix
Opening Hours: Holidays,Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:30
Phone: +33561051010
Website: http://sites-touristiques-ariege.fr/sites-touristiques-ariege/chateau-de-foix
GPS coordinates: 42.96570,1.60476
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39
Occitanie encompasses an architectural and natural heritage that reflects many centuries of history. Medieval villages are nestled in valleys and on heights, while castles and monasteries tell of the era of the Cathars and religious orders. The region also features remarkable geological formations: deep gorges, waterfalls, potholes, and caves decorated with prehistoric paintings. Among the sites to visit, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie overlooks the Lot Valley with its stone houses and narrow streets. The Peyrepertuse fortress stands at 800 meters above sea level on a rocky spur in the Corbières. The Navacelles cirque reveals a canyon carved by the Vis River, while the Gorges de la Jonte provide trails through a habitat for vultures. The Lagrasse Abbey maintains its medieval architecture on the banks of the Orbieu, and the Niaux Cave houses Magdalenian paintings dating back 14,000 years. Natural curiosities like the Gouffre de l'Oeil Doux and the intermittent Fountain of Fontestorbes complete this territory where history and geology meet.
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Abbatiale Saint-Volusien de Foix
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Forges de Pyrène
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L'Estive
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Vernajoul Viaduc
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Château de Brassac
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Prefecture hotel of Ariège
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Halle aux grains
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Viaduc de l'Alses
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Château de Ganac
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Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste
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Building of the Savings Bank of Foix
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Église de l'Assomption de Vernajoul
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Piscine de Foix
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Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption d'Arabaux
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Église de Bénac
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Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Ganac
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Église Saint-Étienne de Brassac
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Monument to Joseph Lakanal
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Fontaine de l'Oie
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Porte d'immeuble
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Immeuble dit maison des Cariatides
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Foix, abbey church St.Volusien, great organ
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