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 was essentially established here, giving them the ability to guard the lower land from this strategic location while maintaining control over access to the upper Ariège valley and protection from enemy attack. The castle played a significant part in the history of medieval warfare and was made the capital of the County of Foix in 1034. The castle hosted Counts with brilliant personalities for the next two centuries, who served as the backbone of the Occitan resistance in the crusade against the Albigensians. The region developed as a favored haven for oppressed Cathars. Due to betrayal during the conflict between two Foix family branches, the frequently besieged citadel only once fell, in 1486. From the 15th century onwards, the castle served as the seat of the governor of Foix territory and kept the region safe, especially during the Wars of Religion. It was the only fortress in the area spared from the orders of destruction of Richelieu, 1632–1638. The stronghold functioned as a garrison up until the Revolution. The collections of the Ariège départemental museum have been kept at the castle since 1930. The history of Ariège is presented in sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman, and mediaeval archaeology. In order to reproduce life of Foix during the reign of the Count, the museum is currently rearrangement displays to focus on the history of the castle site
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#Castles#History
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Monuments and Architecture
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