Foix

Foix is a town in southwestern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It is the capital of the department of Ariège and was once the capital of the County of Foix. Today, it is the second least populous departmental capital in France, with only Privas having fewer people.

Although Foix is not the largest town in Ariège—that honor goes to Pamiers—it holds important administrative roles as the seat of the prefecture of the department. The town has special connections with other places, including the English city of Ripon, the Spanish towns of Sarroca de Lleida and Lleida, and the capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella. Foix sits close to the borders of both Spain and Andorra, making it a interesting point near several countries.

History

The Romans built a fort on a steep rock where Foix castle stands today. The town likely began with an oratory started by Charlemagne, which later became the Abbey of Saint Volusianus in 849.

The founding of the Abbey Saint-Volusien in 849 helped the town grow from the tenth to the twelfth century. The city became most important in the fourteenth century.

The castle, built in the early tenth century, was very strong and survived many attacks, including those by Simon de Montfort IV during the Albigensian Crusade between 1211 and 1217. In 1272, after the Count of Foix refused to accept the king of France as his leader, Philip the Bold led an army against the city, and the count gave in. By 1290, the Counts had mostly left the city. Gaston Phoebus was the last to live in the castle, after which it was used only as a prison until 1864.

In 1536, new ideas about religion began in Foix, and in 1579 the church of Montgauzy was destroyed. The abbey and its church met the same fate in 1581. The next year, Foix was taken back by people who followed the old religion. In 1589, the Count of Foix became King of France as Henry IV.

Geography

Foix is located where the Ariège and Arget rivers meet, in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. You can reach Foix by car using the Route Nationale 20 (N20). Trains leave from Foix station to go north to Toulouse and south to l'Hospitalet station, which helps travelers get to Andorra. From there, you can continue to Letour de Carol station near the Spanish border, where you can connect to trains going to Barcelona. There is also a special night train from Foix station that goes all the way to Paris.

Politics and administration

Foix has a local government system where the number of council members depends on the town's population size. Currently, Foix has twenty-nine council members.

In March 2020, during the last town elections, Norbert Meler, a retired teacher, was chosen to be the Mayor again. Foix used to be the main town for its area, but now it is part of a larger group of towns called Pays Foix-Varilhes. The town is home to important offices that help with education, social services, and health for the local community.

Education

Foix has many schools for children to learn. There are several places for young children to start their education, like Lucien Goron Group 1 Elementary School and Parmentier Nursery School.

When children get older, they can go to middle school, such as Collège Lakanal, or to high school, like Gabriel Fauré General and Technical Lycée. For even more learning, there is a part of the University of Toulouse called the Jean Jaurès, Ariège University Centre, where students can study topics like teaching, tourism, and geography.

Population

Heraldry

The town of Foix uses a special symbol called a coat of arms. It shows gold with three red bars. This design comes from the old leaders of Foix and dates back to medieval times. You can also see this design on the flag and the symbol of the area around Foix. It looks similar to the symbols of Catalonia and Aragon, and also appears in the symbol of Andorra.

Culture

Foix has a rich history in stamps. In 1955, a stamp was made showing the old coat of arms of Foix. In 1958, another stamp featured the Château de Foix, a famous castle in the town.

The town also has lively markets. Every Tuesday morning, you can find fresh food from local farmers at the Halle aux Grains market. On Fridays, a bigger market fills the main street, offering fruits, vegetables, crafts, and more. There is also a smaller market nearby with organic foods at the Square of Saint-Volusien.

International relations

Foix has friendly connections with towns in other countries. It is linked with Lleida in Spain since 1962, Andorra la Vella in Andorra, and Ripon in England. These links help the towns work together and share ideas.

Personalities

Foix has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some notable individuals include:

• Frédéric Soulié (1800–1847), a novelist, playwright, critic, and journalist
• Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923), a statesman and prime minister
• Louise Sarazin (1847–1916), who played an important role in the early days of cars in France and Germany
• Louis Pailhas (born 1926), who directed the National School of Civil Aviation from 1967 to 1982
• Christian d'Orgeix (born 1927), a surrealist painter
• Eric Carrière, a footballer
• Jean Clottes (born 1933), a world-famous expert on ancient cave paintings
• Georges-Patrick Gleize (born 1952), a writer
• Jean-Yves Ferri (born 1959), a comic book author
• Chloé Mortaud, who was Miss France
• Joseph Delteil (1909–1979), a scientist who studied caves

Sport

L'Ayroule Sports Complex

Foix has a large sports complex called L'Ayroule. It includes fields for football and rugby, a special course for kayaking on the Ariège river, and a track for biking races. There are also tennis courts, both outdoors and indoors. Nearby, there is a stadium for running and other track and field events, which was updated in 2010. This stadium also has a place for martial arts training.

Aquatic Centre

Foix has an Aquatic Centre with both indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a Jacuzzi and a sauna for people to enjoy.

Tour de France

Foix has been a stopping point in the famous Tour de France race several times. It welcomed riders finishing stages of the race in 2022, 2017, 2012, and 2008. It was also the starting point for a stage in 2007.

Places of local interest

The town of Foix has many interesting places to visit. The botanical garden, Les Épines de Lespinet, features many types of plants, including cacti and succulents, as well as citrus trees and banana plants.

The Halle aux Grains market, built in 1870, shows the style of architect Victor Baltard. The castle sits on a rocky hill that looks over the town. Most of the castle we see today was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Nearby, the Saint-Volusien Abbey has a beautiful organ made in 1869. The old town still has its medieval feel, with narrow streets and some old wooden houses.

The area known as the Allées de Villote was once outside the city walls. Today, it has trees, a fountain, and is a nice place for people to walk. It also has shops, cafés, and is where the Friday market is held.