From the Ariège Evasion campsite , take the RN20 towards Foix for about twenty minutes. You can't miss the Château de Foix , which you'll see majestically overlooking the town a few kilometers before you arrive. You'll find several parking lots in the town center from which you can reach the castle and its museum.
Foix Castle and its history:
It would take hours for someone from Ariège to tell you the story of Foix Castle, so closely is its history linked to that of Ariège and its inhabitants. Here are a few historical facts before your visit.
The origin:
The castle site was chosen by the first lords to rule the land because it allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley. This high-perched glacial stronghold, a strategic point, overlooks the lowlands while also protecting itself.
The castle is first mentioned in a charter at the beginning of the 11thcentury . In 1002, it appears in the will of Roger Iof Carcassonne, Count of Carcassonne, who was the first lord to bear the title of Count of Foix around 1012.
In 1034, the castle became the capital of the County of Foix. It would play a decisive role in medieval military history. For the next two centuries, the castle was home to counts of brilliant personalities who were the driving force behind the Occitan resistance. While the presence of Cathars is documented in the county, during the Albigensian Crusade (1208-1249), the castle of Foix was never a refuge for heretics, the counts striving to maintain their independence.
In 1272, the Count of Foix , opposing the encroachment of the French crown on his county, reinforced the castle garrison. This proved insufficient against the powerful army of Philip the Bold, who sought to impose his authority in Languedoc. The Count was forced to submit to the king. Taken prisoner, he was brought to Carcassonne. The castle and the county were placed under sequestration and were not evacuated until 1285.
Gaston Fébus and Henri de Navarre:
Gaston Fébus, the last and very powerful Count of Foix from 1343 to 1391, undertook numerous works and improvements to the castle. These were undoubtedly financed with ransom money, as many high-ranking lords from the Southwest were taken prisoner by the people of Foix during battles. Fébus had them imprisoned in the castle of Foix until their families could pay the ransoms.
From 1479, the Count of Foix became the last of the Kings of Navarre. Becoming Henry IV, King of France in 1607, he annexed his Pyrenean lands to France. The castle, seat of the governor of the County of Foix since the 15thcentury , continued to ensure the defense of the region, particularly during the Wars of Religion.
The castle then served as a prison until 1859.
The restoration of the castle at the end of the 19th century:
In the mid-19thcentury , Europe experienced a renewed interest in the Middle Ages and historical heritage. It was then classified as a historical monument in 1840. The castle that you see today is the result of this restoration.
The Museum of the Counts of Foix :
During your visit, discover a fun and interactive departmental museum that lets you witness the lives of the Counts of Foix and their wives, relive their conquests, defeats, passions, and daily lives! As a bonus, if you're a gamer and enjoy investigations, book your Escape Game and set off in search of the Cathar Treasure !
This museum will delight young and old alike! It will allow you to experience the castle visit in a different way.
Visit the city of Foix :
Take advantage of your visit to stroll through the narrow streets, passageways, and footbridges of Rue des Grands Ducs, admire the half-timbered houses of Place Parmentier, the fountain known as the "Goose Fountain" (which actually depicts a swan), the grain market, and theAbbey Church of Saint-Volusien. All the ingredients for a journey into medieval history are present in the center of Foix. Just keep your eyes peeled and don't be afraid to wander down the alleyways. You'll find many small bistros and restaurants that give the city its soul.
Head to Foix on Tuesday or Friday and take a detour to the grain market through the typical Occitan market.
Useful links and tips to help you prepare for your visit:
Reach Foix in a different way:
Bybike along the greenway starting from the Ariège évasion.
By train from Tarascon/Ariège.
Prices, opening hours, ticket office for the castle and museum:
Would you like to know more about the history of the castle and the town?
wikipedia.org/wiki/Château_de_Foix
Good plan:
Buy a discounted tour package which Castle , Foix foix also allow you to visit , the Mas d'Azil and Bédeilhac caves the Bishops ' Palace , Mountaneo and Talcaneo.
