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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The "La Tour d'Ore" fort, located in Gère-Bélesten in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is a historical monument dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. This simple rectangular building originally consisted of a room on the ground floor and three floors, only the ground floor and the first floor of which remain today. The walls, built in rubble and pebbles arranged in regular sittings, bear witness to a defensive architecture typical of medieval times.

The defence of the strong house was provided by four murderers and probably wooden galleries, as evidenced by traces of crows and bolt holes visible on the facades. The first floor, which appears to have been the main level of housing, was equipped with bays, latrines and a sink, indicating residential use in addition to its defensive function.

The building has been damaged over time, including the collapse of the second floor and the drenching of the upper wall, resulting in the disappearance of the third floor. Despite these alterations, the Tower of Ore remains a remarkable example of a strong medieval house, characteristic of local buildings intended for both housing and protection.

Listed in the Historical Monuments by order of 16 October 1997, this strong house illustrates the military and domestic architecture of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in the region. Its present state, although partially degraded, still allows to appreciate the construction techniques and defensive arrangements of the time.

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