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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Jewish cemetery of Bayonne, located in the Saint-Étienne district north of the city, was founded in 1689. It reflects the presence of a Portuguese Jewish community established in Bayonne in the 17th century. This funerary place, renovated and enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries, now covers two hectares and retains tombstones dating from 1654 to 1806. It was the scene of a military episode during the siege of Bayonne in 1814.

In 1862, an ancient temple-shaped depository was inaugurated, adding a remarkable architectural dimension to the site. The cemetery, which belongs to the Jewish Cult Association of Bayonne, benefited from a restoration from 2010. Excavations by European volunteers revealed several hundred sepulchral slabs, enriching the knowledge of this historic necropolis.

Ranked in historical monuments since 15 July 1998, the Jewish cemetery in Bayonne is recognized as the oldest in France. It houses about 3,000 graves, some dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The depository of 1862, as well as the ground of the cemetery and the facades of the depository, are protected by this classification, highlighting its heritage and cultural importance.

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