Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Bidache, mentioned in 1329 as property of the lords of Gramont, was initially a medieval fortress destroyed in 1523 by the troops of Charles Quint in retaliation for the failure of Bayonne. Quickly rebuilt with Renaissance additions, he retained medieval defensive elements like three large round towers. The family of Gramont, a powerful and then French lineage, made it its principal residence, receiving royal figures such as Charles IX and Catherine de Medici in 1565, or Henry IV in 1587.

In the 17th century, under the leadership of Antoine II and III de Gramont, the castle was transformed into a palace inspired by Louis XIII architecture, with terraced gardens and a library of 1,000 volumes. The architect Louis de Mihet, engineer of the King in Bayonne, directs the works, including the southeastern pavilion (1639–42) and the large staircase (1650–54). The castle became a major diplomatic place, welcoming Mazarin in 1659 for the negotiations of the Treaty of the Pyrenees. His apogee coincided with the creation of the sovereign principality of Bidache, symbolized by lavish receptions and a refined court.

Two fires marked its decline: the first in 1523, where 300 soldiers died in flames, the second in 1796, during the Revolution, reducing the castle to ruins. Confiscated as a national good in 1793, he served briefly as a military hospital before being abandoned. In the 19th century, Marshal Soult had parts of the castle destroyed (1814), and the ruins were classified as Historic Monument in 1942. Since 2003, the community of communes of the Country of Bidache has been managing and valorizing it, organizing events such as the History of Bidache, a festival of historical reconstructions that has become one of the most beautiful festivals in France.

The castle retains remarkable elements: the Rondache (medieval cylindrical tower), the vaulted stables, and the facades of the terminal pavilions (17th century). The gardens, once spread out on three terraces with stone floors and stairs, are partially restored. The chapel, built in the base of the dungeon in the seventeenth century, and the ducal library (destructed) testify to its intellectual past. Today, the imposing ruins, still owned by Gramont House, offer an exceptional setting for cultural and heritage activities.

Gramont's family, originally from the Viscounts of Dax, played a major political role in Navarre and France. Key figures such as Antoine III (Maréchal de France, ambassador) or Diane d'Andoins (the Corisande, muse d'Henri IV) lived there. The castle was also the scene of family dramas, such as the assassination of the squire Marsilien by Antoine Antonin II after having caught his wife in adultery. The Gramonts, dukes and peers of France under Louis XIV, gradually abandoned Bidache in the 18th century, accelerating its decline.

Ranked among the emblematic Pyrenean castles, Bidache illustrates the architectural evolution of medieval fortresses in Renaissance palaces, then in romantic ruins. Recent excavations and consolidations (2005–2012) have stabilized the remains, while events such as the Historical (since 2022) bring this heritage to life. The site, open to the public, also houses an artisanal market highlighting local know-how, perpetuating its link with the Bidachote community.

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