Foix
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For the river in Catalonia, Spain, see Foix (river).
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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the French Wikipedia. (December 2008) Click [show] on the right for instructions.
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Foix |
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 Foix
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Midi-Pyrénées |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Foix |
| Canton | Foix-Ville |
| Intercommunality | Pays de Foix |
| Mayor | Jean-Noël Fondère (PS) (2008–2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 358–933 m (1,175–3,061 ft) (avg. 400 m or 1,300 ft) |
| Land area1 | 19.32 km2 (7.46 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 9,712 (2007) |
| - Density | 503 /km2 (1,300 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09122/ 09000 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 42°57′59″N 1°36′28″E / 42.9664°N 1.6078°E
Foix (French pronunciation: [fwa]; Occitan: Fois [ˈfujs, ˈfujʃ]; Catalan: Foix [ˈfoʃ]) is a commune, the capital of the Ariège department in southwestern France. It is the least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, although it is only very slightly smaller than Privas. It lies south of Toulouse, close to the border with Spain and Andorra.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] Population
| Year | 1793 | 1800 | 1806 | 1821 | 1831 | 1836 | 1841 | 1846 | 1851 | 1856 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3265 hi | 3509 | 3959 | 4552 | 4857 | 4699 | 4714 | 5086 | 4684 | 5257 |
| Year | 1861 | 1866 | 1872 | 1876 | 1881 | 1886 | 1891 | 1896 | 1901 | 1906 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5507 | 6746 | 6706 | 6362 | 7076 | 7369 | 7568 | 6722 | 7065 | 6750 |
| Year | 1911 | 1921 | 1926 | 1931 | 1936 | 1946 | 1954 | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6806 | 6165 | 6461 | 6279 | 7006 | 7798 | 7632 | 8156 | 9331 | 9599 |
| Year | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9282 | 9964 | 9109 | 9712 |
[edit] Heraldry
The coat of arms used by the commune has the blazon Or, three pallets gules. 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 Aragon, both featuring in the coat of arms of Andorra.
[edit] Personalities
Foix was the birthplace of Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923), statesman and prime minister.
[edit] Tour de France
Foix was the start of Stage 15 in the 2007 Tour de France, and the end of Stage 11 in the 2008 Tour de France.
[edit] Points of interest
The botanical garden, Les Épines de Lespinet, has a collection of cacti and succulents, as well as citrus trees, banana plants, and Mediterranean vegetation.
[edit] Bibliography
- Claudine Pailhès, Le comté de Foix: un pays et des hommes : regards sur un comté pyrénéen au moyen âge (Louve, 2006) ISBN 291648809X, ISBN 9782916488097, 462 p. [1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Medieval History of Navarre
- Official website (French)
- List of Counts of Foix
- Rulers of Languedoc (including Foix)
- Discover Foix on www.toulousevisit.com
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