Occitan used to be spoken in most of the Ariège. Name signs of street names in the center of Foix now mention, in addition to the French name, also the street name in Occitan. About halfway through France there used to be an imaginary line, below which langue d'oc ("occitan") was spoken.
In the history of this area, one of the most notable periods is that of the Cathars (our word "heretic" comes from cathar). This was not least due to the persecution led by Jacques Fournier (the bishop of Pamiers) between 1318 and 1325, during which he had an extremely accurate account written about the population of Montaillou. These Cathars spoke Occitan, the language of the area in which they lived.
Cathars (cathar shining from the Greek katharoi = reinen) is the most commonly used name for the followers of a medieval large sect (order) believers. In the mid-12th century they were found everywhere in W-Europe, but especially in southern France and northern Italy. The most close-knit group with a good organization were the Albigensians (the southern French Cathars).
The Cathars called themselves "christiani" (Christians). The Cathars lived their Gnostic faith self-consciously and intensely. Charity was an important aspect of this. The views of life were contrary to Roman Catholicism. The Cathars had a clear idea of God, the spiritual and 'Satan', the earthly (so did not actually profess monotheism). When one goes deeper into this difference, it turns out to be an interesting fact.
They knew a pure elite, the "perfectici" or "boni homines" (the perfect), to be regarded as pastors against the mass of normal believers the "credentes". After the perfectists received their "consolamentum", they led a sober life, ascetic, vegetarian, celibate and subservient to the others.
One of the most striking things in the Cathar faith was that women were equal to men.
After severe persecutions, crusades (1209 and 1226) and struggles, this sect slowly disappeared after the downfall of the Albigensians.