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Origin and history

The spoulga known as the Churches is a medieval fortified cave in Bouan, Ariège department, Occitanie region. This troglodytic monument extends over 100 metres along a cliff, covering about 2000 m2. It is distinguished by its defensive arrangements, including two fortified doors, merlon enclosures, and a tank system totalling 65 m3 of water storage, a record for spoulgas in Foix County. These installations, developed from the 13th century onwards, bear witness to its strategic role in protecting the channels of communication between Catalonia and the Toulosain.

The Bouan spoulga, the best preserved of the eight spoulgas of the Sabarthes, depended on the local feudal power and served as a refuge for the populations, including the fleeing cathars and Protestants during the religious wars. Unlike other similar sites, it is mentioned until the beginning of the 15th century, highlighting its prolonged importance. The site, which has been listed as a Historic Monument since January 12, 2023, includes uplifting remains, buried traces, and the soil and basement of Cadastral Parcel A 490.

The spoulgas of the Sabarthes, studied by archaeologist Florence Guillot, formed a defensive network for the Counts of Foix, dominating major axes such as via mercadal. Bouan, with its two built caves, beams and preserved floors, illustrates the adaptation of natural cavities into fortresses. Its access, which can be accessed from the village, and its position opposite the Fontanet cave, on the other bank of the Ariège, reinforce its strategic character. The term spoulga, derived from the Latin spelunca, refers to these fortified caves, phenomena attested since Antiquity in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The first medieval records of these structures date back to the Chronicles of Frédégaire and to the Royal Annals, evoking their military use from the eighth century under Pépin the Brief. In 767 he conquered several speluncae during his campaigns in Garonne. The spoulgas of the Sabarthes, like that of Bouan, are part of this tradition, while serving as refuges during religious conflicts. Their study revealed a remarkable concentration: 30 sites, including 9 over 5 km in the Vicdessos valley. Bouan, a communal property, is distinguished by its size and state of conservation, offering a unique testimony to troglodytic defensive architecture.

The site has been given dual protection: it has been listed as a site since February 25, 1943, and then listed as a Historic Monument in 2023. This recognition covers all remains, including buried elements and the basement. Interior developments, such as tanks covered with tile mortar or floor marks, reveal continuous occupancy and successive adaptations. The Bouan spoulga thus embodies a military, religious and social heritage, reflecting the tensions and protection needs of a border region between the 12th and 15th centuries.

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