What is the most beautiful castle in Pyrénées-Atlantiques?

The most visited in Pyrénées-Atlantiques is Fort du Socoa, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.

How much does a visit cost?

The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 1 of these castles are free.

How is this selection made?

Among the 97 castles recorded in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.

The 10 most beautiful castles in Pyrénées-Atlantiques

10 châteaux

Chosen among 97 recorded castles

What to see in Pyrénées-Atlantiques when you only have a weekend: the 10 most visited castles according to their visitors’ reviews, among those open to the public whose visiting conditions we checked on the official website. For each: what you see, the entry price, the link to the full entry.

Ranked by attendance, from the number of Google reviews. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.

No. 1
Fort du Socoa
Ciboure
At Ciboure, at the entrance to the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Socoa fort has guarded the harbour approach since the 17th century.
Free entryHours, prices and access
No. 2
Chateau de Brindos
Anglet
The château de Brindos stands on the edge of a private lake in Anglet, between Biarritz and the Basque coast. The estate now operates as a hotel with a restaurant, bar and spa rather than as a monument open for heritage visits.
Hours, prices and access
No. 3
Château d'Urtubie (Urtubie Castle)
Urrugne
A few kilometres from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the château d'Urtubie stands on the site of a border stronghold authorised in 1341 by the English king Edward III, then duke of Aquitaine.
Adult €9.50Hours, prices and access
No. 4
Château de Franqueville (Franqueville Castle)
Bizanos
Château de Franqueville, in Bizanos (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France. Location, access and practical information.
Hours, prices and access
No. 5
Château de Morlanne (Morlanne Castle)
Morlanne
Built in the 14th century on the orders of Gaston Fébus, this fortified castle guarded the Béarn frontier facing English-held Gascony.
Adult €7Hours, prices and access
No. 6
Château-Vieux
Bayonne
In Bayonne, the Château-Vieux stands at the corner of a 2nd-century Roman enclosure, incorporating three towers that were reinforced by the viscounts of Labourd from the late 11th century onward.
Hours, prices and access
No. 7
Château de Françon (Françon Castle)
Biarritz
Château de Françon, in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France. Location, access and practical information.
Hours, prices and access
No. 8
Vieux Château (Mauléon-Licharre)
Mauléon-Licharre
Standing on a hilltop above Mauléon-Licharre, the old castle occupies the site of an 11th-century earthwork fortress later rebuilt in stone.
Adult €3Hours, prices and access
No. 9
Château Moncade
Orthez
On a hill above the Gave de Pau, the tower of Moncade stands alone over the town of Orthez, the last remaining part of a 13th-century fortress that served as residence to the viscounts of Béarn.
Hours, prices and access
No. 10
Château de Maÿtie (Maÿtie Castle)
Mauléon-Licharre
Château de Maÿtie, in Mauléon-Licharre (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France. Location, access and practical information.
Hours, prices and access

Every castle in Pyrénées-Atlantiques (97)Which ones open this weekend?

Frequently asked questions

What is the most beautiful castle in Pyrénées-Atlantiques?: The most visited in Pyrénées-Atlantiques is Fort du Socoa, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.
How much does a visit cost?: The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 1 of these castles are free.
How is this selection made?: Among the 97 castles recorded in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.