Castle of Bidache

The first mention of the ducal castle of Bidache (the commune of Bidache is located in the Yrénées-Atlantiques), pertaining to the family of the lords of Gramont, goes up with 1329. He knew since many events before burning in 1796. With the state of ruin currently, it is in the course of restoration.

Presentation

Only three grosses round towers, in the North-West and the south, testify to the medieval castle destroyed in 1523 by the troops of Charles Quint, in reprisals with the failure met with Bayonne, of which the mayor was then Jean II, lord of Gramont. The castle quickly will then be given in state by Renaissance additions, while preserving the principle of the medieval defensive elements.

At the 17th century, the important work, influenced by architecture Louis XIII, then sails about it in the Paris region, are entrusted to the architect Louis de Mihet, also responsible for work of the fortifications of Bayonne. The construction of gardens and terraces goes back to this time.

Last work will be completed at the beginning of the 18th century with the installation of the monumental main door with the triangular pediment.

In 1793, the castle and its dependences were confiscated with the profit of the Nation and a military hospital was installed there during a few months. The building was empty when, in the night from February 22nd to 23rd 1796, a fire devastated it.

History

Family of Gramont

Set fire to of 1523

In September 1523, Jean II, baron de Gramont, is with the service of François Ier. It fights Philibert de Châlon, frightening prince d' Orange, with Sauveterre-with-Béarn, Navarrenx, Pampelune, Bayonne. During these operations, the Imperial ones besieged its castle of Bidache.

“Three hundred soldiers, writes the father Jose Moret, offered a strong resistance to the Spaniards. They were defended with as well value as they stopped the enemy during three days until this one could put fire at it”. the fire was such as “the majority of the defenders perished in the flames except some which, precipitating top of the walls, liked to better die bored by the spades with the end of which the enemy received them”.

Repairing

Claire de Gramont, sister of Jean de Gramont and widow of Menaud d' Aure, only heiress of the House, helped by the archbishop of Bordeaux Charles de Gramont, will direct the rebuilding of the castle. To died from Claire, the goods of her husband, Aure and Aster, signed by contract of substitution to the family of Gramont. One can date from XVIe century the body of the building at right angles being between the two courses and being spread between the house of the large staircase and the gross tower, a turret of staircase, the fortifications external which extend to south-west, and the rehandlings with height of the southern face.

The amazement of the bidachots will be such as a quatrain of No5el Gascon preserves the trace of such rebuildings. The shepherd is astonished there that Jesus rather did not choose to be born the castle from Bidache:

“Which hat haüré jamey known as

Puch that boil debit balance nache

That haurets not chaousit

Lou Castet de Bidache”

First sovereign of Bidache

The July 12th 1565, Antoine Ier (1526 - 1576) offers to Bidache a sumptuous reception with Catherine de Médicis, on the way towards Bayonne with his/her son Charles IX to meet there Elisabeth de Valois, queen of Spain.

In 1568 the marriage of Philibert is celebrated, his/her oldest son, with Diane d' Andoins, which will take the romantic pseudonym of Corisande, countess of Guiche.

Antoine Ier withdrew itself prudently in his grounds at the time of the head office of Navarrenx. He declared himself neutral, being satisfied to transmit to Jeanne d' Albret, taken refuge with La Rochelle, some messages.

The November 13rd 1570, Antoine signs an ordinance carrying the payment of justice for its sovereignty. It is a point moreover marked with its credit.

Large Corisande

Diane d' Andoins, widow of Philibert de Gramont, wounded mortally to the seat of Fère, returns in the History under the name of Corisande: “This large Corisande”, wrote his/her friend Montaigne (who will dedicate some sonnets to him) with Etienne of Boétie, “will become the egery of Henri III of Navarre” (the future Henri IV of France).

Antoine Antonin II

Antoine Antonin II, lord of Bidache, first duke of Gramont, was the son of Corisande and Philibert. He marries in 1601 Louise de Roquelaure, girl of the governor of Guyenne.

This one, satisfied to have ensured its descent, succumbed to the charm of its rider, Marsilien. Antoine Antonin, returning to the improvist, surprised the two lovers in a posture not leaving a place to the ambiguity. It estoqua at once its rival, “sending it to enjoy in another world”. the countess of Gramont was condemned to died by a court with its devotion. One is unaware of the circumstances of his death.

The lord of Bidache, which had been remarié with Claude de Montmorency Bouteville (girl of decapitated celebrates), was high in 1643 with the dignity of duke and Pair of France by the small Louis XIV. One owes in Antoine Antonin construction in 1639, by engineer Louis de Milhet, of the south-eastern house “of costé of the right hand while entering”.

The marshal Antoine III

Antoine III, duke of Gramont (1604 - 1678), is undoubtedly most famous of the family of Gramont. He marries the niece of the Cardinal of Richelieu. Friend of Mazarin, this last entrusted to him in 1649, at the time of the disorders of the Fronde, the guard of the young person Louis XIV with the Château of Saint-Germain-in-Bush hammer.

Ambassador of the king to the Diet of Frankfurt in 1657 and in Madrid in 1659 to ask for the hand of the infante Marie-Therese, the duke Antoine III had the badge honor to accommodate in Bidache the July 23rd 1659 his eminence the Mazarin cardinal come to negotiate with Saint-Jean-with-Luz with gift Louis de Haro the conditions of the Traité of the Pyrenees. The reception was sumptuous in the residence bidachote transformed recently into a true palate which preserved feudal fortress only the old keep arranged in vault and bookstore.

They were at that time that the passion of the oldest son of the marshal was declared, the count de Guiche (1637 - 1673), “héro of novel and the passage of the Rhine” (like wrote Madam de Sévigné) for Madam Henriette of England, sister-in-law of Louis XIV. This one sent it in exile to Bidache. To distract itself, the count de Guiche made build the terrace connecting the castle to has city.

Second fire

The castle had still proud pace the October 22nd 1793 when the clerk of the district made an inventory of it before the confiscation with the profit of the Nation. The February 23rd 1796, year IV of the Republic, around seven hours of the morning, all burned and it will not remain any more of the castle delivered to the flames but than one sees some today.

Many one evening famous hosts came to meditate in front of these ruins: Napoleon III and Eugenie de Montijo, whereas the second duke of Gramont was retained in Turin at his post of ambassador. Later, the prince came from Wales, future Edouard VII. The family of Gramont remains always faithful to this high place.

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