Donjon Lacataye, Mont-de-Marsan, France

The Donjon Lacataye is the keep of a 14th-century castle, constructed by order of Gaston Phébus in the commune of Mont-de-Marsan.

La Cataye consists of two joined Romanesque houses, which one sees perfectly while entering the current museum whose central internal wall includes Romanesque windows, a sign that one of the two houses was built before the second. These houses belonged to the Viscount's family and were more or less abandoned starting from the 15th century, when the Viscounts moved away from their town of origin. During the 16th century, their upper parts were modified and they were equipped with crenellations.

In 1860, Antoine Lacaze, mayor and owner of the keep, gave it to the town to house troops. It later became the departmental barracks until 1875, when the soldiers moved to the Bosquet barracks in the town. The keep preserved the name Caserne Lacaze (Lacaze Barracks) for nearly a century, in spite of a succession of civil uses: boarding school for young girls, gymnastics centre, municipal workshop.

In 1968, mayor Charles Lamarque-Cando inaugurated in the keep a museum of modern figurative sculpture (the Musée de Mont-de-Marsan), dedicated to two local artists, Charles Despiau and Robert Wlérick.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Mimi Keira (2 years ago)
Too bad we have to put 1 star minimum because frankly it's disappointing. More than 1h30 drive to see the outside while on google it is noted open and that we little visited according to some opinions. No phone number nothing to reach them at all

Jonathan Letterio (2 years ago)
I loved how it looked.

BELIN Fabrice (3 years ago)
Impressive shell stone monument. An unmissable historic site in Mont de Marsan, witness to the fortified past of the city. Too bad that the maintenance of the surroundings of the dungeon and the banks is not more rigorous. The wooden planks to block the windows are not very attractive either. Access to the laundry located below was closed this Easter weekend when it deserves to be seen all year round to the public.

Laurent D. (4 years ago)
It looks nice to visit but it's closed for renovations until 2025!

Sylvie Dage (6 years ago)
A must see !

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