Sauveterre-de-Béarn (, literally ''Sauveterre of

Béarn Béarn (; ; or ''Biarn''; or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in Southwestern France. Along with the three Northern Basque Country, ...

''; ; ) is a medieval village perched above the Gave d'Oloron and facing the Pyrenees in south-western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is a commune in the

Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon language, Gascon Occitan language, Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; ) is a Departments of France, department located in the Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest corner of metropolitan ...

department.

History

While the stone portions of the

drawbridge A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable b ...

remain, the wooden section is no longer there and the terminal of the bridge has been walled. The church and many buildings remain in their original condition. In the Middle Ages the town was used to keep a watch from its lofty heights on

Gascony Gascony (; ) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part of the combined Province of Guyenne and Gascon ...

and the bordering

Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...

. The remains of the bridge provide the most impressive view of the town above.

Miscellaneous

Sauveterre de Bearn appeared in the

Trevanian Rodney William Whitaker (June 12, 1931 – December 14, 2005) was an American film scholar and writer who wrote several novels under the pen name Trevanian. Whitaker wrote in a wide variety of genres, achieved bestseller status, and publishe ...

(aka Rod Whitaker) novel '' The Summer of Katya'' under the name Alos. In the book, it is where the Festival of the Drowned Virgin takes place.

References

Communes of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia {{OloronSainteMarie-geo-stub

History

Miscellaneous

See also

References