Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Bortuste's dread is part of a set of four dreads erected in Urrugne at the beginning of the 19th century, between the hamlet of Béhobie and the reliefs near the Rhune. These structures, with irregular geometrical planes, were built of limestone and surrounded by ditches. They were used to defend the French-Spanish border, particularly during the Napoleonic wars (1808-1814) and earlier clashes (1793-1795).

These fortifications bear witness to the violent fighting that marked Urrugne, especially in 1793-1794, where the battles destroyed homes and farms. The dreads were restored and reused during the Napoleonic invasion of Spain, then faced with the advance of the Duke of Wellington's troops in 1813. Their role was crucial to controlling the collars and strategic points like Ibardin or Mount Mandalé.

Today, Bortuste's dread, like those of Louis XIV, Bayonnette and Emigrés, remains partially, although often covered with vegetation. These vestiges recall the turbulent military history of the Basque Country and the destruction suffered by local populations. The municipal registers of Urrugne keep traces of the claims for the reconstruction of the burnt farms until 1843.

The dread has been listed in the Historical Monuments since 1992, emphasizing its heritage importance. It illustrates Marshal Soult's defensive strategies against Anglo-Hispano-Portuguese coalitions, in a context of recurrent border wars. Francis Gaudeul's sketches, published in 1989, help restore his original structure.

External links