Foix

Foix (French pronunciation: ​[fwa]; Occitan: Fois [ˈfujs, ˈfujʃ]; Catalan: Foix [ˈfoʃ]) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. Today it is the Préfecture of the Ariège department in southwestern France in the Occitanie region. It is the second least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, the least-populous being Privas. Foix lies south of Toulouse, close to the border with Spain and Andorra. At the 2009 census, the city had a population of 9,861 people. It is only the second city of the department after Pamiers which is one of the two sub-prefectures. Foix is twinned with the English cathedral city of Ripon.

For the river in Catalonia, Spain, see Foix (river).

Foix
Prefecture and commune
View of Chateau de Foix in Lazema area
Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Foix
Foix
Foix
Coordinates: 42°57′59″N 1°36′28″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
DepartmentAriège
ArrondissementFoix
CantonFoix
IntercommunalityPays Foix-Varilhes
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Norbert Meler[1] (PS)
Area
1
19.32 km2 (7.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[2]
9,532
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Fuxéen
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
09122 /09000
Elevation358–933 m (1,175–3,061 ft)
(avg. 400 m or 1,300 ft)
Websitewww.mairie-foix.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History
Château des Comtes de Foix

The Romans built a fort on the rocky hill where the Château de Foix castle now overlooks the town. The town of Foix probably owes its origin to an oratory founded by Charlemagne, which afterwards became the Abbey of Saint Volusianus in 849. The current area was preceded by the County of Foix.

The founding, in 849, of the Abbey Saint-Volusien allowed the development of urban living in the tenth century to the twelfth century. The city reached its peak in the fourteenth century.

The castle, whose foundations date back to the early tenth century, was a strong fortress that withstood the repeated attacks of Simon de Montfort IV between 1211 and 1217, during the Albigensian Crusade. In 1272, when the Count of Foix refused to recognize the sovereignty of the king of France, Philip the Bold personally took the leadership of an expedition against the city, subsequently the count surrendered. In 1290, at a meeting of the Béarn region and the county of Foix, the city was practically abandoned by the Counts. Gaston Phoebus was the last to have lived in the castle, and by the sixteenth century the castle had lost its military purpose. The castle was then used as a prison until 1864.

In 1536 began the first Reformation preaching in Foix, and in 1579 the church of Montgauzy was destroyed. The same fate awaited the abbey and its church in 1581. The following year, Foix was retaken by Catholics, and in 1589 the Count of Foix, Henry of Navarre, was crowned King of France and became Henry IV.

Geography

Foix is located on the Ariège river in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It can be accessed by car from the Route Nationale 20 (N20). The local train station to the north of the town has connections to Toulouse and local towns in the Occitanie.

Politics and administration

Municipal

In accordance with the General Code of Territorial Collectives - Article L2121-2, the number of council members is fixed in relation to the size of the population. For Foix, this is twenty nine.[3]

The last municipal elections were held in March 2014 in which retired teacher, Norbert Meler, was elected Mayor.[4]

Administration and electoral relationships

The District of Foix is the administrative district to which the Municipality of Foix belongs within the Department of Ariège. Foix is the main seat of the agglomerated community of Pays Foix-Varilhes. As such, it hosts several administrative bodies, namely Academic Inspection; Departmental Direction of the Territories; Departmental Direction of the Social Cohesion and the Protection of the Populations; Local branch of the French Family Allowance Fund (CAF); Local branch of the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) and the local branch of the Agricultural Social Mutuality (MSA).

Education

Primary education
  • Lucien Goron primary school
  • Cadirac Primary School
  • Cardie Primary School
  • Courbet Primary School
  • Bruilhols Primary School

Secondary education
  • College Lakanal
  • Gabriel Fauré General and Technological School
  • Jean Durroux Vocational School

Higher education
  • Central University of the Ariège

Population

The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the censuses of the population carried out in the commune since 1793. From 2006, the legal populations of the communes are published annually by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). The census is now based on an annual collection of information, successively covering all municipal territories over a period of five years. For municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, a census survey of the entire population is conducted every five years, the official population of middle years themselves being estimated by interpolation or extrapolation. For the municipality of Foix, the first comprehensive census within the framework of the new mechanism was carried out in 2008.

In 2016, the municipality had 9,613 inhabitants, down 1.73% from 2011.

Historical population
Year 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008 2012
Pop.3,2653,5093,9594,5524,8574,6994,7145,0864,6845,2575,5076,7466,7066,3627,0767,3697,5686,7227,0656,7506,8066,1656,4616,2797,0067,7987,6328,1569,3319,5999,2829,9649,1099,7129,756
±%—    +7.5%+12.8%+15.0%+6.7%−3.3%+0.3%+7.9%−7.9%+12.2%+4.8%+22.5%−0.6%−5.1%+11.2%+4.1%+2.7%−11.2%+5.1%−4.5%+0.8%−9.4%+4.8%−2.8%+11.6%+11.3%−2.1%+6.9%+14.4%+2.9%−3.3%+7.3%−8.6%+6.6%+0.5%

Heraldry

The coat of arms used by the commune has the blazon D'or à trois pals de gueules (gold with three red stripes). This is replicated on the flag, and in the arms of the département. It originates from the arms of the Counts of Foix, and, as such, dates back into medieval times. It bears a resemblance to the coat of arms of Catalonia, and also of Aragon, both featuring in the coat of arms of Andorra.

Culture

Philately

In 1955 the post office issued a postage stamp with a face value of 50 cents, consisting of the black, green, yellow and red representing the Arms of County of Foix which is referenced as YT 1044. It is part of the eighth century series of Provincial Coat of Arms.

In 1958, the post office issued a postage stamp with a face value of 15 f., consisting of Ultramarine, gray, brown and green representing the Château de Foix which is referenced YT 11759.

Markets and fairs

There are two weekly markets in the town. On every Tuesday a food only market for local producers is held between 0730 and 1330 in the Halle aux Grains. Every Friday is a larger market that includes local food, crafts and products. It is spread between the Allees de Vilotte under the Corn Exchange, around the Halle Saint-Volusien and Place Violet.[5]

Arts

The arts are delivered by L'Estive, the arts centre in Foix, which supports more than 40 events in and around the town. It includes the Art et Essai cinema.

International relations

Foix is twinned with the following places:

Personalities
  • Louis de Bassompierre, abbot of Saint-Volusien
  • Frédéric Soulié (1800-1847), novelist, dramatist, critic and journalist.
  • Charles de Freycinet (1828-1923), statesman and prime minister.
  • Louis Pailhas (born 1926), director of the National School of Civil Aviation from 1967 to 1982
  • Christian d'Orgeix (born 1927), surrealist painter
  • Alexandre Rauzy, MP under the Third Republic, the Socialist Party activist and Democratic Socialist Party
  • Eric Carrière, footballer
  • Jean Clottes (1933-), world-renowned prehistorian
  • Georges-Patrick Gleize, (born 1952), writer
  • Jean-Yves Ferri (born 1959), author of comics
  • Chloé Mortaud, Miss France
  • Joseph Delteil (1909–1979), speleologist, died in Foix

Sport

L'Ayroule Sports Complex

Theses playing fields comprise 3 football pitches; 3 rugby pitches; a white water stadium for canoe and kayaks on the Ariege river; a 250m velodrome; 4 open air tennis courts and 2 covered. Across the Boulevard François Mitterrand is the athletics stadium Jean Noel Fondere, renovated in 2010, it includes the 400-meter track with 6 lanes for the athletics race all categories and different areas to practice high jump, long jump, the shot put, hammer , disc and javelin and pole vault. The synthetic coating allows athletes selected to have an efficient and quality equipment. This equipment is being classified as regional-level equipment to the French Athletics Federation. The athletics stadium is home to U.S.F Union Sportive Fuxéenne rugby union club. On the opposite end of the athletics stadium car park is the Dojo de Foix, a martial arts centre.

Aquatic Centre

The Aquatic Centre serves the population of the Agglomerated Community of Pays Foix-Varilhes.

Tour de France

Hosting History:

  • On historic Bastille Day, 14 July, the Town of Foix hosted the arrival of the 2017 TDF racing teams on Stage 13, St. Girons-Foix.
  • Hosted arrival Stage 14 in 2012 Tour de France, Limoux-Foix.
  • It was the finishing town of Stage 11 in the 2008 Tour de France, Lannemezan-Foix.
  • For the 2007 Tour de France, Foix hosted the start of Stage 15, Foix - Loudenvielle-Le Louron.

Places of local interest

Botanical Garden

The botanical garden, Les Épines de Lespinet, has a collection of cacti and succulents, as well as citrus trees, banana plants, and Mediterranean vegetation.

Granary

The granary, dating from 1870, is in the style of Victor Baltard.

Castle

The castle stands on a rocky outcrop, to the west of the town. The majority of the present building dates from the twelfth century to the fourteenth century. In the North, the square tower, covered by a slated roof at the end of the nineteenth century, is certainly the oldest because it dates the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The middle tower, built in the thirteenth century, was completely renovated in the fourteenth century. It has beautiful architectural features such as sculpted heads and coats of arms keystones. The round tower on the other hand has Gothic architecture with large bays illuminating beautiful hexagonal vaulted halls.

Saint-Volusien Abbey
Further information: Saint-Volusien, Foix

In 1104, the regular canons of St. Augustine took possession of an abbey housing the relics of St. Volusien. It was then that the construction of a large church with three naves, with a transept, was undertaken. In the fourteenth century, the Romanesque apse was replaced by a new polygonal chancel. The building was destroyed during the religious wars and the relics were burned. Reconstruction work was undertaken from 1609 and completed in 1670. Of the medieval church, there are mainly the portal and the base of the walls of the nave remaining. There is an organ of 40 stops, built by Fermis in 1869 and restored in 2007.

Old Town

This still retains its medieval character as reflected in the narrow streets (Rue des Marchands, the Rue des Chapeliers), and some half-timbered houses.

Chapel and area of Montgauzy

Of the primitive Romanesque church and the church of the thirteenth century, there is nothing left. The present church dates partly from 1628, and kept the Romanesque layout and a portal that imitates the style. The history of the chapel Montgauzy is hectic. Its foundation commemorates the victory of Charlemagne over the Moors in 778, and the chapel became a place of pilgrimage. In 1340, the Bishop of Pamiers, Arnaud Villemur, had to intervene against incivility of some of pilgrims which were becoming increasingly numerous (there were reports of noisy evenings). On 4 January 1562 the chapel was one of the many targets of the Reformation, and in 1579 the governor of the castle of Foix demolished it. It was rebuilt in 1628 and the pilgrimage recommenced. Following the revolution, having been rebuilt, it is sold in 1791. This private property, due to lack of maintenance, then falls apart. It is the turn of the department to make the purchase in 1840. An École Normale is installed in the area and the chapel in 1843 is made fit for worship. It closed again in 1883, and the furniture is scattered. After repairs in 1943, it was again reopened for worship.

The Alleys of Villote

The "Villote" (small town), in the Middle Ages, was a space outside the walls surrounding the city built in 1330. Executions took place sometimes at the alleys. In the thirteenth century, after the destruction of the city walls, tree planting and urban works with a fountain and orchestra setting, make it the choice for walking for the local Fuxéens. The site currently houses the festivities of the city, the market (every Friday) as well as many shops, eating places and public services.

Bibliography
  • Claudine Pailhès, Le comté de Foix: un pays et des hommes : regards sur un comté pyrénéen au moyen âge (Louve, 2006) ISBN 2-916488-09-X, ISBN 978-2-916488-09-7

See also

References
  1. "Ville de Foix" (in French). habitants.fr. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  2. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. "General Code of Territorial Collectives - Article L2121-2". Le Service Public de la Diffusion du Droit. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  4. "Foix Township Official Website". Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  5. "Foix Fair and Markets". Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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