In the French département of Ariège, the town of Foix is dominated by the Château de Foix. Known as a center of the Cathars, it is a popular tourist destination. The French Ministry of Culture has recognized it as a monument historique since 1840. Constructed upon an ancient 7th-century defensive system, the castle dates back to 987. It was referenced in will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne in 1002, when he left the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. The family in charge of the area wa ... (Read More)