Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Arricau, located in Arricau-Bordes in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, has its origins in the 14th century, with a mention of a fortified house in 1385. The Arricau family, attested as early as 1150, dominated the place until the 18th century. The present castle was mainly rebuilt around 1570 by Jean d'Arricou, secretary of the king of Navarre and converted to Protestantism, who took advantage of the confiscations of ecclesiastical property to modernize the house. The structure is organized around a well-supported motte, with a lower courtyard housing the remains of a Saint Martin chapel, and a body of houses flanked by a hexagonal tower.

The major transformation took place at the end of the 16th century, as evidenced by the engraved dates (1572 on the dovecote, 1585 on the stair tower). The castle, enlarged in the 17th and 19th centuries, passes through successive alliances with the families of Abbadie, Montesquiou d'Artagnan and Pratviel, who carry out important works there. Inside, 18th-century woodwork and fireplaces adorn the rooms, while a circular dovecote and a square tower (probably 19th) complete the whole. The chapel Saint Martin, mentioned in 1674 with its cemetery, illustrates the religious anchoring of the site.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1988 for its facades and roofs, the castle embodies the architectural and social evolution of the Béarn, between seigneurial power, religious reforms and modern adaptations. Its medieval plan, marked by a court of guards and outbuildings, reflects both a defensive and residential function, typical of the noble houses of the region during the Renaissance.

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