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.

User Reviews

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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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Château-Vieux

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Sigmaringen Castle