Château-Vieux, also known as the Old Castle of Bayonne, is a

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

in the ''

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

'' of

Bayonne Bayonne (; eu, Baiona ; oc, label= Gascon, Baiona ; es, Bayona) is a city in Southwestern France near the Spanish border. It is a commune and one of two subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine re ...

, in the

Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; eu, Pirinio Atlantiarrak or ) is a department in the southwest corner of France and of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlanti ...

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivity, territorial collectivities"), between the regions of France, admin ...

'' of France. The castle has been rebuilt many times over the centuries.

History

The castle was built on the site of a Roman castrum which housed the garrison and administration of the region named "Lapurdum". From the end of the 11th century, the Viscounts of

Labourd Labourd ( eu, Lapurdi; la, Lapurdum; Gascon: ''Labord'') is a former French province and part of the present-day Pyrénées Atlantiques ''département''. It is one of the traditional Basque provinces, and identified as one of the territorial c ...

begin building a castle around the three Roman towers and walls around the town, as their residence. The castle became English upon the

Duchy of Aquitaine The Duchy of Aquitaine ( oc, Ducat d'Aquitània, ; french: Duché d'Aquitaine, ) was a historical fiefdom in western, central, and southern areas of present-day France to the south of the river Loire, although its extent, as well as its name, fluc ...

, being inherited by the English crown. After the French took occupation of the castle and town in 1294, an English force led by

John St John John St. John may refer to: Politicians *John St. John (MP for Northamptonshire) (aft.1360-1424), MP for Northamptonshire in 1410, 1411, 1416, and 1421 *John St. John (MP for Bedfordshire) (bef. 1495–1558), MP for Bedfordshire, 1539, 1542 * John ...

, laid siege to the town. On 1 January 1295, the citizens of Bayonne drove the French garrison into the castle and opened the town gates to St John. The French garrison of the castle surrendered after a siege of eleven days. A new castle was constructed in Bayonne during the 15th century in Petit-Bayonne, by King

Charles VII of France Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461), called the Victorious (french: le Victorieux) or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII inherited the throne of F ...

, as a place to watch the city he had just taken over from the English. In the 17th century, on the orders of Vauban undertaking fortifications to protect Bayonne, the castle became the North West fortifications of the city. The central tower was destroyed and a fortified forecourt was added. In 1808,

Napoléon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

signed a decree ordering the castle's demolition, which was not undertaken. It was classified as a historic monument on 7 November 1931. The castle is currently the mess of the

1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine ( en, 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment) or 1er RPIMa is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore part of the Special Operations Command. Heirs to the Free Frenc ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chateau-Vieux (Bayonne) Castles in Nouvelle-Aquitaine Monuments historiques of Nouvelle-Aquitaine