Ancien château des Barons d'Espelette ou Ezpeleta

English translation

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History

The family is mentioned from the mid-13th century. The primitive castle was replaced, around 1480, by a polygonal fortress flanked by five semicircular towers adapted to artillery. The building was destroyed around 1640, in retaliation for a betrayal. The 17th-century main dwelling was built on this site after 1640. Building bequeathed to the parish in 1694. The castle extended over the entire district which today surrounds its remains. These are reduced to a corner tower of oblong plan ending in a semicircle. From the second level, three bands delimit storeys which become progressively lower, the last serving as a cornice. At the third and fourth levels, gun embrasures open towards the north-west. A partially destroyed echauguette survives at the second level. In its present state, the tower must date from 16th-century work. The main dwelling body which extends from it presents on the south a long wall fragment. On the north, triangular pediments must date from the mid-17th century. The entrance door, at the centre, has pilasters.