Château-Neuf

English translation

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History

At the beginning of the 12th century, Bayonne experienced, thanks to its communal franchises, an economic and demographic expansion which necessitated the urbanization of the low-lying lands of the left bank of the Nive and the Adour. After the Hundred Years' War, the French having retaken the city in 1451 decided to improve the defensive system of the city by constructing the new castle, set against the English fortification of the early 14th century. The castle made it possible to face Spanish or English threats and to prevent any desire for revolt among the Bayonnaise, such as that of the Bordelais in 1453. In 1462, the two round towers facing the new town were erected. In the 16th century, the rivalry between France and the house of Austria as well as by the Wars of Religion, the fortifications were transformed to respond to the progress of artillery. The rampart of François Ier was raised in front of the Gallo-Roman wall. In 1520, the new castle was reinforced. During the War of the Dutch (1672-1678), Colbert undertook to have the fortifications consolidated. In 1680, Vauban was sent to Bayonne. He increased the capacity of barracks in the new castle and had its lower windows bricked up. A ditch was arranged around it. The new castle retained this barracks function until its decommissioning by the Army in the 1980s. The castle is a quadrangular defensive complex comprising, to the south-west, a round tower dating from the 1460s, with its two adjoining curtain walls. To the south-east is the square tower, also called "Mocoron tower" which belonged to the English urban fortification. To the north-east, at the end of the crenellated curtain wall of the 17th century and heightened subsequently, rises the Mocoron gateway. This former city gate of the 14th century comprises two polygonal towers framing a gate surmounted by a pointed arch. This gate was incorporated into the new castle from the second half of the 15th century. To the north subsists the English curtain wall. The quarter-circle tower served as a dungeon. To the south of the square tower to the north-west rises an oblong tower built around 1462. A stair turret is attached to it to the north. A 15th-century curtain wall joins the oblong tower to the round tower to the south-east. Leaning against these medieval remains stand barracks buildings dating from the 19th century.