Château d'Abbadie, Hendaye, France

Château d'Abbadie is a château in Hendaye. Built between 1864 and 1879, it was designed in the neo-Gothic style by E. Viollet-le-Duc and incorporated many enigmatic features characteristic of its owner, the explorer Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie.

References:

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User Reviews

Alfred Kowalke (2 years ago)
Told us entrance to the park is 2€ each but the entrance is not at the castle and most of all its free... Not recommendable

Taylor Gaussoin (2 years ago)
Pretty decent Castle considering the significance of the time. Could have done a better job with the downspouts to ensure the native lime in the Water does not compromise the mortar. Staff not as accommodating as it once was in the 1930s.

José Aguasvivas (3 years ago)
Impressive architectural work and interesting history. The guided tour is a must.

Jorge De Aragon (3 years ago)
Very beautiful place, great views, free parking, free bathrooms, vending machine, entry costs 2€, guided tour costs 9,5€ (French, English, Spanish languages). There are also beach, park for walking and other things for outdoor activities. Highly recommended place.

Natalia Irina Crea (3 years ago)
Stunning palace, such a shame they only offer tours in French. They give you some information in your native language but you miss 50% of the tour. Girl giving the tour was a sweetheart and made the visit fly by. Would have loved to be able to understand everything she said as it seemed to be pretty interesting. Still worth the visit!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Erik Christensen, Porkeri

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Kirkjubøargarður

Kirkjubøargarður ('Yard of Kirkjubøur', also known as King"s Farm) is one of the oldest still inhabited wooden houses of the world. The farm itself has always been the largest in the Faroe Islands. The old farmhouse dates back to the 11th century. It was the episcopal residence and seminary of the Diocese of the Faroe Islands, from about 1100. Sverre I of Norway (1151–1202), grew up here and went to the priest school. The legend says, that the wood for the block houses came as driftwood from Norway and was accurately bundled and numbered, just for being set up. Note, that there is no forest in the Faroes and wood is a very valuable material. Many such wood legends are thus to be found in Faroese history.

The oldest part is a so-called roykstova (reek parlour, or smoke room). Perhaps it was moved one day, because it does not fit to its foundation. Another ancient room is the loftstovan (loft room). It is supposed that Bishop Erlendur wrote the 'Sheep Letter' here in 1298. This is the earliest document of the Faroes we know today. It is the statute concerning sheep breeding on the Faroes. Today the room is the farm"s library. The stórastovan (large room) is from a much later date, being built in 1772.

Though the farmhouse is a museum, the 17th generation of the Patursson Family, which has occupied it since 1550, is still living here. Shortly after the Reformation in the Faroe Islands in 1538, all the real estate of the Catholic Church was seized by the King of Denmark. This was about half of the land in the Faroes, and since then called King"s Land (kongsjørð). The largest piece of King"s Land was the farm in Kirkjubøur due to the above-mentioned Episcopal residence. This land is today owned by the Faroese government, and the Paturssons are tenants from generation to generation. It is always the oldest son, who becomes King"s Farmer, and in contrast to the privately owned land, the King"s Land is never divided between the sons.

The farm holds sheep, cattle and some horses. It is possible to get a coffee here and buy fresh mutton and beef directly from the farmer. In the winter season there is also hare hunting for the locals. Groups can rent the roykstovan for festivities and will be served original Faroese cuisine.

Other famous buildings directly by the farmhouse are the Magnus Cathedral and the Saint Olav"s Church, which also date back to the mediaeval period. All three together represent the Faroe Island"s most interesting historical site.

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