Is the château de Sault still standing?

No, the tower that formed its main surviving part collapsed in 2021 during a storm; only wall foundations and a wall section remain.

How old is the château de Sault?

It dates back to the twelfth century, built on a castle mound occupied since the Middle Ages.

Can you still visit the château de Sault-de-Navailles?

You can visit the site to see the mound, the wall foundations and the surviving wall section, but the tower itself no longer exists.

Why was the château de Sault significant in the Middle Ages?

It held a strategic position on the border between Béarn and Aquitaine and was fought over by both sides throughout the thirteenth century.

Château de Sault

Sault Castle

Sault-de-Navailles

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Sault-de-Navailles

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Château de Sault stands in Sault-de-Navailles (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 11th century, 12th century, 13th century, 14th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Perched on a mound overlooking the Luy-de-Béarn valley at Sault-de-Navailles, this stronghold once marked the border between Béarn and Aquitaine. Captured and recaptured during thirteenth century conflicts, and partly dismantled as early as 1263, it had long retained only a thick-walled rectangular tower and a stretch of its surrounding wall. That tower collapsed in 2021 during a storm, so what remains on site today is mainly low wall foundations and a single surviving wall section.

Written from Château de Sault

What to know

The tower, the main surviving structure, collapsed in 2021 after storm Justine and is no longer standing.
What remains today is mainly low wall foundations, a wall section and the castle mound it stood on.
The site, including its ruins, tower remains, mound and adjoining bailey, has been a listed historic monument since 1998.
Visits are outdoors, on sloping ground typical of a former motte site.

Where this château is

Sault-de-Navailles · Pyrénées-Atlantiques · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Sault-de-Navailles, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

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

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA64000030
Period of construction: 11th century, 12th century, 13th century, 14th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

Is the château de Sault still standing?: No, the tower that formed its main surviving part collapsed in 2021 during a storm; only wall foundations and a wall section remain.
How old is the château de Sault?: It dates back to the twelfth century, built on a castle mound occupied since the Middle Ages.
Can you still visit the château de Sault-de-Navailles?: You can visit the site to see the mound, the wall foundations and the surviving wall section, but the tower itself no longer exists.
Why was the château de Sault significant in the Middle Ages?: It held a strategic position on the border between Béarn and Aquitaine and was fought over by both sides throughout the thirteenth century.