Château-Vieux, Bayonne, France

The Château-Vieux ('Old castle') in Bayonne is built on the site of an ancient Roman castrum which housed the garrison and administration of the region. From the end of the 11th century the viscounts of Labourd built the fortress based on three existing Roman towers strengthened. The castle was refortified in the 17th century by Vauban plans.

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Albert Alfieri (2 years ago)
Imposing building built between the 11th and 17th century (finished by Vauban). Cannot be visited, it is still a military enclosure. If you are going to see the cathedral take a short detour on foot (100m) to admire its proportions from the square below

Guillermo R (4 years ago)
It cannot be visited. Military area. The exterior is nice.

Francisco Ramirez (5 years ago)
An old castle, good preserved

brian woo (6 years ago)
Not much to see here

Claudia Teixeira (6 years ago)
Wonderful

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Château-Vieux

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