Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The 14th century building of Bayonne houses one of the best preserved cellars in the city. It consists of five arched bays, decorated with large tore arches and arch keys decorated with circular rings. The traces of an ancient staircase and a funeral slab attributed to Bishop Gaspard de Prielle, bishop of Bayonne (1681–88), remain there. A circular transenne pierced into the vault illuminates space, aligned with a well whose margin has been found.

The cellar, classified as Historical Monument by decree of 1 February 1988, illustrates the medieval civil architecture of Bayonne. Its structural elements, such as overpassed arches and warhead arches, reflect the construction techniques of the era. The presence of a later funerary slab (17th century) suggests a re-use or historical stratification of the site. The ensemble offers a rare testimony of the urban basements of the period.

Located 1 square of the Château-Vieux, the building is part of the Bayon heritage, marked by its harbour history and Basque influences. The cellar, although partially accessible, remains a key vestige to understand the architectural and social evolution of the city between the Middle Ages and modern times. Its central location, near the castle, underlines its importance in the historical urban fabric.

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