Château d'Urtubie, Urrugne, France

Château d'Urtubie still belongs to the same family since its construction in 1341. Additions and improvements were carried out in the 16th and 18th centuries and the castle is today a historic monument, furnished and decorated with refinement .

The stones of Urtubie tell six centuries of history of the Basque Country . King Louis XI sejourned in the castle in 1463 and Louis XIV raised the domain to the status of viscounty in 1654. In the 19th century Soult then Wellington were known to the castle during the Napoléonic wars.

User Reviews

Kevin Moore (16 months ago)
Very interesting, lots of info provided. Shortage of shaded seating. Not busy but worth a visit

P&T Addison (16 months ago)
A lovely small chateau with an interesting history. Self guided at your own pace with laminated guide sheet. Didn't push the gift shop items if you weren't interested.

James Harmer (2 years ago)
Amazing hotel, with a wonderful and friendly owner. Full of history and artifacts collected and passed down from his family. You will feel like a member of royalty staying in one of the castle's bedrooms. The breakfast is fantastic in the old dining room with classical music and the gardens and woods must not be missed.

Nigel Whittle (4 years ago)
Wonderful stay with exceptional friendly host and lovely chateau

Valentina M (4 years ago)
Small castle, nice excursion, that's a pity that castle is too close to a noisy road

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Drew de F Fawkes

Historic Site of the week

Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg

The Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg is situated in a strategic area on a rocky spur overlooking the Upper Rhine Plain, it was used by successive powers from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War when it was abandoned. From 1900 to 1908 it was rebuilt at the behest of the German kaiser Wilhelm II. Today it is a major tourist site, attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year.

The first records of a castle built by the Hohenstaufens date back to 1147. The fortress changed its name to Koenigsburg (royal castle) around 1157. The castle was handed over to the Tiersteins by the Habsburgs following its destruction in 1462. They rebuilt and enlarged it, installing a defensive system designed to withstand artillery fire.

The fortification work accomplished over the 15th century did not suffice to keep the Swedish artillery at bay during the Thirty Years War, and the defences were overrun.

Château d'Urtubie

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Timeless Treasures of Wales

Gothic Cathedrals of Belgium

Migthy Cathar Castles

Historic Site of the week

Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg