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Origin and history

Bellocq Castle was built between 1250 and 1280 by Gaston VII de Béarn to strengthen the border with the English Guyenne. Located on the banks of the river Pau, it formed a defensive ensemble with a bastide and a fortified church, designed to house a large garrison. Its quadrilateral plan, without dungeon, included four round towers, one semicircular and two squares, one of which served as an entrance.

In 1370 Gaston Fébus modernized the defences to counter the threats of the kingdoms of France, England and Navarre. The castle became an occasional residence of the kings of Navarre in the 16th century, especially for Jeanne d'Albret, who stayed there during his cures in Salies-de-Béarn. In 1568 he resisted a siege led by the Count of Montgomery during the Wars of Religion, before being burned in 1620 by Louis XIII to prevent his use by Protestants.

From 1622 the castle was partially dismantled and fell into ruins. Ranked a historic monument in 1997, today it remains in the form of an irregular quadrilateral flanked by seven towers (one of which disappeared in 1740), with deconstructed courtines and a round path. The square door tower, vaulted with dogives, served as the main access point, while a northern door tower was protected by a round tower. No dungeon ever existed on the site.

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