The Fortified Castle of Lourdes
Lourdes is dominated by its historic castle, the Chateau Fort of Lourdes, in the Hautes-Pyrenees Departement of France. Built on a rocky promontory overlooking the town of Lourdes, this immense castle has witnessed battles, bloodshed, sieges and destruction for centuries. Because of its strategic position at the entrance of the seven valleys of the Lavedan, the castle has played a prominent role in the history of Lourdes. It was first used by the Romans as a military encampment and was gradually enlarged and strengthened with the passage of time. For centuries, this fortified castle has remained virtually impregnable. Located on the right bank of the Gave de Pau, a river of south-western France, this medieval castle was also known as "Mirambel" during the middle ages. From the castle, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the town of Lourdes.
A panoramic view of the town of Lourdes from the castle
The beautiful town of Lourdes (view from the castle)
The Gave de Pau river running through Lourdes (view from the castle)
A beautiful view of the Basilica of Saint Pius X from the castle
The Castle of Lourdes and its surrounding areas have a very interesting history which dates back to the Roman Era. The Vandals invaded Gaul (France) in the year 406. This ancient "barbarian" Germanic tribe not only massacred the elderly, women, and children, but also razed to the ground everything they found in their path. The Visigoths who invaded Gaul after the Vandals laid siege to the castle, took control of it, and used it to strengthen their defenses. The castle was occupied by the Saracens in the 8th Century after they were defeated by Charles Martel at Poitiers in 732. In 778, Charlemagne laid siege to the castle occupied by the Saracens and captured it. According to a legend, Mirat the Saracen leader, was about to surrender due to starvation when an eagle dropped a trout at his feet. The coat of arms of Lourdes, which consists of an eagle with a trout in its beak perching on a castle, still bears witness to this legend. Here the story goes:
The Eagle and the Trout
In 778 AD, the year of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, the Charlemagne besieged the fortress of Lourdes, occupied by the Saracens. As they were on the brink of starvation, an eagle flew above the castle with a trout in its beak and dropped it at the feet of Mirat, the Saracen leader. Mirat sent the trout to Charlemagne with the message that he still had lots of food and would never starve. Charlemagne was about to give up the siege when the Bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay suggested that Mirat should surrender, not to the emperor, but to the Mother of God. And of course he did. Mirat and his men not only surrendered to Charlemagne but to the Blessed Virgin Mary and were converted. Mirat was baptised and took the Christian name of Lorus. He became the governor of Lourdes and the town was named was named after him, which in the course of time, became known as Lourdes.
In 841, the Castle of Lourdes was attacked by the Normans but they failed to capture it. However, the castle was subsequently occupied by the Albigenses, French, and English. In 1195, the castle became the property of the viscount of Tartas after which it was passed from hand to hand. In 1216, Simon de Montfort tried to take the castle but his attempt failed after a short siege. In 1314, Charles the Fair restructured and fortified the castle to enhance the region's defence capability. In 1322, he became the King of France (Charles IV) and the castle became crown property. In 1361, during the Hundred Years' War, Bigorre was ceded to the Prince of Wales who also known as the black prince. He entrusted the castle to Peter-Arnold and John of Bearn who set about looting the area with the Gascon mercenaries. Attempts to besiege the castle by the duke of Anjou and Du Guesclin in 1373 failed and it was not until 1377 that Gaston Phoebus was able to recapture the castle for the Emperor of France. However, the English were not completely driven out until 1407.
The Count of Clermont seized the castle during the conquest of the "seven valleys" in the year 1404 but returned it to the Emperor of France, Charles IV, in 1406. In 1425, the castle became the property of the House of Foix. The castle also had a prominent role to play when the Wars of Religion between the Catholics of Bigorre and the Huguenots were raging throughout the country from March 1562 to April 1598. During this period of violence, the town of Lourdes was captured and recaptured, plundered and pillaged. In 1607, when Bigorre became part of France and peace was restored, the castle became crown property. The Emperor of France, Henry IV of Navarre from the House of Bourbon, commissioned the restoration of this castle.
During the French Revolution and the reign of Napoleon, the castle became a state prison, where famous inmates were imprisoned, and these include the Duke of Mazarin, the French philosopher Maine de Biran and General Bourbaki. In the Nineteenth Century, the castle was converted into army barracks. The municipal administration of Lourdes bought the castle for 50000 gold francs in 1893.
Following extensive restoration in 1921, the castle was transformed into a beautiful Pyrenean Museum under the initiative of Louis Le Bondidier and his wife, Margalide. As stated by Louis Le Bondidier, "nothing that is from the Pyrenees should be foreign to us" which is clearly proven by the "pyreneism" of the museum and its intention to revive the art and traditions of this great historical period. The exhibits of the museum include traditional costumes, furniture, agriculture tools, crockery, musical instruments, artifacts, and everyday objects. Visitors can also see a reconstructed Bearn kitchen and Bigourdan bedroom of the 19th Century. These excellent historical displays enable the visitors to explore and discover the cultural richness of Lourdes over the centuries. The Castle of Lourdes, which symbolizes the history of the town of Lourdes, was listed as a National Heritage Site by the French Ministry of Culture in 1933. Now completely restored, it is one of the most visited museums of traditional arts and crafts in France.
There are lifts to take the visitors up to the main terrace of the castle. Alternatively, visitors can take the 156 steps Saracens' Staircase and enter through the Charlemagne gate or the Assommoir gate. From the castle terrace, visitors can see the magnificent views of the sanctuaries of Lourdes, the Gave de Pau, the town of Lourdes and the Pyrenees. The crenellated tower is 24 metres high and there is a 104 steps curving staircase to take visitors to the top of the tower. And do remember to visit the "Our Lady of the Castle" chapel. You will be able to see some of the gilt-covered wooden statues from the original parish church of Lourdes which was destroyed by fire and demolished in 1905. These include the Madonna with child, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. James of Compostela and St. Lucy.
Within the walls of the castle, there is also a beautiful botanical garden. At the central courtyard of the castle, you will be able to see the beautifully designed miniature reproductions of historic Bigorre and Bearn abbeys, castles and monuments.
The castle is within walking distance from the center of the town but I have never walked there before as I preferred to take the Little Train of Lourdes. It is a very interesting place and really worth visiting.Believe me, you'll love everything that you see there.
You may also like to read LOURDES: THE PIC DU JER AND THE FUNICULAR. To read more about Lourdes, please click here to view the content page of this blog. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.
References:
1. Lourdes and Bernadette by Antonio Bernardo. Publisher "il Calamo"
2. Discover Lourdes. MSM.
3. Lourdes: Apparitions, Message, Pilgrimage. MSM.
4. Lourdes: In Bernadette's Footsteps. MSM.
5. Lourdes History. Editions A. Doucet - Lourdes.
6. Lourdes by Antonio Bernardo. Doucet Publications.
In 841, the Castle of Lourdes was attacked by the Normans but they failed to capture it. However, the castle was subsequently occupied by the Albigenses, French, and English. In 1195, the castle became the property of the viscount of Tartas after which it was passed from hand to hand. In 1216, Simon de Montfort tried to take the castle but his attempt failed after a short siege. In 1314, Charles the Fair restructured and fortified the castle to enhance the region's defence capability. In 1322, he became the King of France (Charles IV) and the castle became crown property. In 1361, during the Hundred Years' War, Bigorre was ceded to the Prince of Wales who also known as the black prince. He entrusted the castle to Peter-Arnold and John of Bearn who set about looting the area with the Gascon mercenaries. Attempts to besiege the castle by the duke of Anjou and Du Guesclin in 1373 failed and it was not until 1377 that Gaston Phoebus was able to recapture the castle for the Emperor of France. However, the English were not completely driven out until 1407.
The Count of Clermont seized the castle during the conquest of the "seven valleys" in the year 1404 but returned it to the Emperor of France, Charles IV, in 1406. In 1425, the castle became the property of the House of Foix. The castle also had a prominent role to play when the Wars of Religion between the Catholics of Bigorre and the Huguenots were raging throughout the country from March 1562 to April 1598. During this period of violence, the town of Lourdes was captured and recaptured, plundered and pillaged. In 1607, when Bigorre became part of France and peace was restored, the castle became crown property. The Emperor of France, Henry IV of Navarre from the House of Bourbon, commissioned the restoration of this castle.
During the French Revolution and the reign of Napoleon, the castle became a state prison, where famous inmates were imprisoned, and these include the Duke of Mazarin, the French philosopher Maine de Biran and General Bourbaki. In the Nineteenth Century, the castle was converted into army barracks. The municipal administration of Lourdes bought the castle for 50000 gold francs in 1893.
Following extensive restoration in 1921, the castle was transformed into a beautiful Pyrenean Museum under the initiative of Louis Le Bondidier and his wife, Margalide. As stated by Louis Le Bondidier, "nothing that is from the Pyrenees should be foreign to us" which is clearly proven by the "pyreneism" of the museum and its intention to revive the art and traditions of this great historical period. The exhibits of the museum include traditional costumes, furniture, agriculture tools, crockery, musical instruments, artifacts, and everyday objects. Visitors can also see a reconstructed Bearn kitchen and Bigourdan bedroom of the 19th Century. These excellent historical displays enable the visitors to explore and discover the cultural richness of Lourdes over the centuries. The Castle of Lourdes, which symbolizes the history of the town of Lourdes, was listed as a National Heritage Site by the French Ministry of Culture in 1933. Now completely restored, it is one of the most visited museums of traditional arts and crafts in France.
Chateau Fort Pyrenean Museum
Chateau Fort Pyrenean Museum
Chateau Fort Pyrenean Museum
Chateau Fort Pyrenean Museum
Chateau Fort Pyrenean Museum
There are lifts to take the visitors up to the main terrace of the castle. Alternatively, visitors can take the 156 steps Saracens' Staircase and enter through the Charlemagne gate or the Assommoir gate. From the castle terrace, visitors can see the magnificent views of the sanctuaries of Lourdes, the Gave de Pau, the town of Lourdes and the Pyrenees. The crenellated tower is 24 metres high and there is a 104 steps curving staircase to take visitors to the top of the tower. And do remember to visit the "Our Lady of the Castle" chapel. You will be able to see some of the gilt-covered wooden statues from the original parish church of Lourdes which was destroyed by fire and demolished in 1905. These include the Madonna with child, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. James of Compostela and St. Lucy.
View from the castle terrace
View from the castle terrace
View from the castle with the Pyrenees in the background
Within the walls of the castle, there is also a beautiful botanical garden. At the central courtyard of the castle, you will be able to see the beautifully designed miniature reproductions of historic Bigorre and Bearn abbeys, castles and monuments.
Miniature historical reproduction
Miniature historical reproduction
A very nice reproduction of Bigorre
Miniature historical reproduction
Miniature historical reproduction
The castle is within walking distance from the center of the town but I have never walked there before as I preferred to take the Little Train of Lourdes. It is a very interesting place and really worth visiting.Believe me, you'll love everything that you see there.
You may also like to read LOURDES: THE PIC DU JER AND THE FUNICULAR. To read more about Lourdes, please click here to view the content page of this blog. There is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.
References:
1. Lourdes and Bernadette by Antonio Bernardo. Publisher "il Calamo"
2. Discover Lourdes. MSM.
3. Lourdes: Apparitions, Message, Pilgrimage. MSM.
4. Lourdes: In Bernadette's Footsteps. MSM.
5. Lourdes History. Editions A. Doucet - Lourdes.
6. Lourdes by Antonio Bernardo. Doucet Publications.
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