The monument and its history: The Chäteau de Foix is a castle which dominates the town of Foix in the French department of Arige. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. It has been listed in the XIX century as a monument historical by the French Ministry of Culture. 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 Arige 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 mediaeval 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. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars. The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family. From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace (Palais des gouverneurs). From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrenean lands to France. As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defense of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638). Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison.