Foix

**Foix** (; ) 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 to south of Toulouse, close to the border with Spain and Andorra. The city is only the second city of the department after Pamiers. Of all French _préfectures_, Foix is the one with fewest people living in it.

## History

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 of the department was part of the old County of Foix.

## Geography

The city of Foix lies in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains, in southern France. It is on the confluence of the Ariège and Arget rivers. Foix is at  to the south of Toulouse.

The _commune_ has an area of . Its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The _commune_ of Foix is surrounded by the _communes_ Arabaux, Cos, Crampagna, Ferrières-sur-Ariège, Ganac, Montgaillard, Pradières, Saint-Jean-de-Verges, Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière and Vernajoul.

### Climate

The climate of Foix, in the Köppen climate classification, is **Cfb** - Oceanic climate with template summers.

## Population

The inhabitants of Foix are known, in French, as _Fuxéens_ (women: _Fuxéennes_).

Foix has a population of 6,9,721 (2014), and population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Foix**

Foix forms, with other 5 _communes_, the urban area of Foix with a population of 14,552 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Foix, formed by 17 _communes_ with a population of 18,406 inhabitants (2013) and an area of .

## Administration

Foix is the prefecture of the Ariège department, the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Foix and the administrative centre () of the canton of Foix (with 13,700 inhabitants in 2014).

It is part of the intercommunality _Pays Foix-Varilhes_ ().

### Twinned and partner towns

Foix is twinned with:
- Lleida, Spain
- Andorra la Vella, Andorra

## Sites of interest

- The main historic building is the **Castle of the Counts of Foix** or, simply, **Castle of Foix**; it is on the top of a rocky hill that overlooks the city.
- The _old town_, with narrow streets and houses of traditional architecture.
- **Saint-Volusien Abbey**
- The ***Villote*** (small town), in the Middle Ages, was a space outside the walls surrounding the city built in 1330.

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Foix
- Communes of the Ariège department

## Other websites

- Site officiel de la ville de Foix
- Office de Tourisme du Pays Foix-Varilhes
- Foix in Histariège - Histoire et Patrimoine de l'Ariège

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Foix
- **commune status**: Prefectures of France, Prefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image flag**: Flag of the County of Foix.svg
- **image coat of arms**: Blason du comté de Foix.svg
- **image**: Foix - Château et ville.jpg
- **caption**: View of Chateau de Foix in Lazema area
- **arrondissement**: Foix
- **canton**: Foix
- **party**: Socialist Party (France), PS
- **mayor**: Norbert Meler
- **term**: 2014–2020
- **intercommunality**: Pays Foix-Varilhes
- **elevation m**: 400
- **elevation min m**: 358
- **elevation max m**: 933
- **area km2**: 19.32
- **population**: 9721
- **population date**: 2014
- **population demonym**: Fuxéen
- **insee**: 09122
- **postal code**: 09000
- **website**: [http://www.mairie-foix.fr/ www.mairie-foix.fr]