Where was Henry IV born?

At the château of Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It now houses a national museum devoted to Henry IV and the history of Béarn.

Where did Henry IV grow up?

His early childhood was spent at Coarraze, near Pau, with his governess Suzanne de Bourbon, then at Nérac, the Albret château, where his mother Jeanne d’Albret had lived.

Henry IV castles: which ones are open all year?

2 are listed as open all year: Palace of Fontainebleau and Château de la Bourdaisière. The others open in season, and winter hours are often shorter.

Henry IV castles: how much is admission?

Across the 5 places whose prices we know, adult admission ranges from €4 to €17.

The castles of Henry IV

15 châteaux listed

15 places where Henry IV was born, grew up, stayed, or that he had pulled down, with admission prices and opening seasons.

Henry IV was born at the château of Pau, seat of the viscounts of Béarn who became kings of Navarre. He spent his early childhood at Coarraze, twenty kilometres away, in the care of his governess Suzanne de Bourbon, baroness of Miossens. He later lived at Nérac, the Albret château, as his mother Jeanne d’Albret had before him, and spent some ten years there with his wife Marguerite de Valois, Queen Margot.

As Henry of Navarre, he met Catherine de’ Medici at Langoiran in late August 1578. He lodged at Goudourville in 1587, stayed at Meslay during the siege of Vendôme in 1589, and at the manor of Argentelles in Normandy in 1591.

Once king of France, he was received at La Bourdaisière with Gabrielle d’Estrées in 1598. At Saint-Germain-en-Laye he had the Château-Neuf built, which remained the king’s main residence until Louis XIII. Fontainebleau was his favourite château: he had Ambroise Dubois decorate the Oval Cabinet there, where his son Louis XIII was born. He also had fortresses dismantled: Lavardin, taken by his troops, and Noyers-sur-Serein, destroyed on his orders in 1599.

Each link comes from the French Ministry of Culture’s Mérimée records, the official websites of Fontainebleau and Nérac, or our own château pages. For every place: what ties it to the king, the adult admission price where we know it, and the opening season.

The places, one by one

From the best known to the most discreet. Prices are for one adult; the season comes from the opening periods each place publishes.

Château de Pau (Pau Castle)
Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Where Henry IV was born; it now houses a national museum devoted to him.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Nérac (Nérac Castle)
Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne
The Albret château, where Henry of Navarre lived after his mother, then for some ten years with Queen Margot.
Adult admission: €5Open May to May
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access
Château de Coarraze (Coarraze Castle)
Coarraze, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Henry IV spent his early childhood here, with his governess Suzanne de Bourbon.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Chateau-Neuf de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines
Built under Henry IV in the late 16th century; the Henri IV pavilion and terraces survive.
Adult admission: €6Open in season
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access Tickets
Palace of Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne
His favourite château; he had the Oval Cabinet decorated, where Louis XIII was born.
Adult admission: €17Open all year
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access Tickets
Château de la Bourdaisière (Bourdaisière Castle)
Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire
Henry IV and Gabrielle d’Estrées were received here in 1598.
Adult admission: €14Open all year
Opening hours and access
Château de Malesherbes (Malesherbes Castle)
Le Malesherbois, Loiret
Owned by Henriette d’Entragues, Henry IV’s mistress.
Season not published
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access
Château de Langoiran (Langoiran Castle)
Langoiran, Gironde
Henry of Navarre met Catherine de’ Medici here in late August 1578.
Adult admission: €4Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Goudourville (Goudourville Castle)
Goudourville, Tarn-et-Garonne
Henry IV lodged here in 1587.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Meslay (Meslay Castle)
Meslay, Loir-et-Cher
He stayed here in 1589, during the siege of Vendôme, in the fortress that preceded today’s château.
Open July to September
Opening hours and access
Manoir d'Argentelles
Villebadin, Orne
Henry IV stayed here in 1591.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Verteuil (Verteuil Castle)
Verteuil-sur-Charente, Charente
The future Henry IV was a guest here, as were Henry II and Catherine de’ Medici.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Montguyon (Montguyon Castle)
Montguyon, Charente-Maritime
A Protestant stronghold in the Wars of Religion, visited several times by Henry of Navarre.
Season not published
Opening hours and access
Château de Lavardin (Lavardin Castle)
Lavardin, Sarthe
Taken by Henry IV’s troops, who ordered it dismantled.
Season not published
Hours to be confirmed
Opening hours and access
Château de Noyers-sur-Serein (Noyers-sur-Serein Castle)
Noyers, Yonne
Destroyed on Henry IV’s orders in 1599; ruins remain.
Season not published
Opening hours and access

The map

The 15 places on this page. Tap a point to open its page.

Loading the map…

The route

The country of his youth takes two days: Coarraze and Pau, twenty kilometres apart, then the road through Gascony to Nérac and Goudourville, by the Garonne.

Stop	From the previous stop
1.Château de Coarraze (Coarraze Castle) · Coarraze
2.Château de Pau (Pau Castle) · Pau	18 km
3.Château de Nérac (Nérac Castle) · Nérac	110 km
4.Château de Goudourville (Goudourville Castle) · Goudourville	47 km

175 km in a straight line overall

Frequently asked questions

Where was Henry IV born?: At the château of Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It now houses a national museum devoted to Henry IV and the history of Béarn.
Where did Henry IV grow up?: His early childhood was spent at Coarraze, near Pau, with his governess Suzanne de Bourbon, then at Nérac, the Albret château, where his mother Jeanne d’Albret had lived.
Henry IV castles: which ones are open all year?: 2 are listed as open all year: Palace of Fontainebleau and Château de la Bourdaisière. The others open in season, and winter hours are often shorter.
Henry IV castles: how much is admission?: Across the 5 places whose prices we know, adult admission ranges from €4 to €17.