The 10 most beautiful castles in Pyrénées-Atlantiques
10 châteaux
Chosen among 99 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 renown: how often their name is searched on Google each month, and how many reviews visitors have left. “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.
No. 3
Château de Franqueville (Franqueville Castle)
Bizanos
In Bizanos, on the edge of Pau, the château de Franqueville sits on a wooded hillside overlooking the valley of the Gave de Pau, with an open view toward the Pyrenees.
No. 4
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. 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
Abbadia Castle
Hendaye
Built in Hendaye between 1864 and 1879 for Antoine d'Abbadie, explorer and astronomer, this château owes its neo-Gothic design to Viollet-le-Duc and his collaborator Duthoit.
No. 7
Château de Pau (Pau Castle)
Pau
Standing on a rocky spur above the Pau river, the château of Pau grew out of a 12th century stronghold before becoming the residence of the viscounts of Béarn and later the kings of Navarre.
No. 8
Château Gramont (Gramont Castle)
Biarritz
château Gramont, in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France. Location, access and practical information.
No. 9
Château d'Arcangues (Arcangues Castle)
Arcangues
The Château d'Arcangues has belonged to the same family since the 12th century, though the present building dates from 1900, rebuilt on the plan of a 17th century structure after several destructions. Two pavilions flank a central block, and a round tower with an octagonal roof echoes Spanish Basque architecture.
No. 10
Château de Bidache (Bidache Castle)
Bidache
In Bidache, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, stand the ruins of a castle built in the second half of the 16th century, once the seat of the Dukes of Gramont.
Every castle in Pyrénées-Atlantiques (99)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 99 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.