When was the castle built ?

The stronghold acquired its present structure around 1555, though settlement on the site dates to the fiefdom created in 1033.

Who owned the castle during the Wars of Religion ?

The lord of Etchaux was a close ally of King Henry IV, and this period marked the family's greatest political and military prominence.

Has the castle been altered since the 16th century ?

In 1848, it was purchased by the d'Abbadie d'Arrast family, who added outbuildings and terraces, and window openings were reworked during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Château d'Etchaux

Etchaux Castle

Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry

To make a day of it

This week in the agenda

Visite guidée : Au coeur des remparts parcours Grand BayonneTue, Nov 10 · château-Vieux de Bayonne37 km

Château d'Etchaux stands in Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 16th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

This 16th-century stronghold in the Baïgorry valley reflects a period of religious conflict that marked its prominence. Its rectangular structure is reinforced with two round towers on the west side and two asymmetrical corner turrets on the east, a typical defensive layout of that era. Later 19th-century modifications altered the original openings, though interior details such as a wrought-iron staircase railing survive from earlier times.

What to know

The building has been registered as a historic monument since 1989, with protection covering the facades and roofing.
Located in the Basque Country of southwestern France, the castle sits in a mountainous valley landscape.
Interior fittings and the wrought-iron staircase railing are the main elements of architectural interest.

Where this château is

Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry · Pyrénées-Atlantiques · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Map of the area around Château d'Etchaux

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

64430 Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00084547
Period of construction: 16th century

Frequently asked

When was the castle built ?: The stronghold acquired its present structure around 1555, though settlement on the site dates to the fiefdom created in 1033.
Who owned the castle during the Wars of Religion ?: The lord of Etchaux was a close ally of King Henry IV, and this period marked the family's greatest political and military prominence.
Has the castle been altered since the 16th century ?: In 1848, it was purchased by the d'Abbadie d'Arrast family, who added outbuildings and terraces, and window openings were reworked during the 18th and 19th centuries.