Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Beaucens Castle, built in the 14th century, was the main residence of the Viscounts of Castet-Loubon, also called Viscounts of Lavedan. This castle, symbol of their power in Bigorre, dominated a vast seigneury including 17 villages in the valley of Barèges. He remained inhabited until 1643, when he belonged to the Montaut-Bénac family. Its strategic importance and its role as a vicomtal house made it a central place in the region until its gradual decline.

In 1660, the castle welcomed Madame de Motteville on her journey to Saint-Jean-de-Luz to attend the marriage of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria. This stay illustrates its residual prestige, despite its partial abandonment. In the 19th century, the site was marked by natural events, such as the earthquake of 1854, which severely damaged a tower and part of the walls. The dungeon, better built, resisted these tremors better, according to Justin-Édouard Cénac-Moncaut's observations.

The castle changed hands in the mid-19th century: in 1856, it belonged to Achille Fould, banker and finance minister under Napoleon III. This influential figure of the Second Republic and the Second Empire marked a new stage in the history of the estate. At that time, the site was already partially ruined, but its historical attractiveness and geographical location made it a notable site, associated with local legends such as the eagle and trout, linked to a seat raised by a food trick.

In the 20th century, the castle was classified as a historic monument in 1927, recognizing its heritage value despite its state of degradation. Since 1973, it has been home to the "Aigles dungeon", a zoological park dedicated to raptors, where shows featured eagles, vultures and other birds of prey evolving around the ruins. This project has helped to restore a tourist and educational vocation to the site, while preserving medieval remains.

Local geology adds a particular dimension to the castle: a cold sulphur source, used by the inhabitants, and nearby lead and copper mines, exploited in the rock supporting the ruins. These natural resources, combined with the legend of the eagle bringing a trout to deceive the besiegants, reinforce the mythical and historical character of the site, anchored in the Pyrenean landscape.

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