Trinquet à Saint-Palais dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Palais Trinquet, built between 1891 and 1892, is a three-storey rectangular building covered with a cradle metal frame. Its roof, pierced by a central glass lantern and side chassis, ensures optimal natural lighting. The bays in the middle of the hang on the south side, now obstructed by Persians, complemented this luminous contribution. This monument is considered to be the first trinquet designed for indirect play, without a gate gallery but with a gallery at the bottom, and respecting approved dimensions, thus serving as a model for later constructions.

Frédéric de Saint-Jayme (1862–1938), who had him erected at the same time at the hotel of the same name, Place du Foirail, was responsible for his construction. The work was led by Mr. Laborde, the bridge and carriageway operator. Inaugurated on 18 April 1892, the trinquet symbolizes the evolution of local sports practices and the architectural adaptation to the technical needs of the Basque pelotus. Its inscription as a Historic Monument by decree of 3 July 2024 underlines its heritage importance.

The building, owned by the commune of Saint-Palais, is distinguished by its functional plan and its structural innovations, reflecting the ingenuity of the artisans of the period. Its official address, 29 rue du Jeu de Paume, and its cadastral location (park n°1012, section C) anchor this place in the urban and sports history of the Basque Country. However, the accuracy of its geographical location remains poor (level 5/10), according to available data.

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