Heritage
The citadel
Constructed on the site of the ancient fort of the kings of Navarre, the Citadel dominates the walled city. Constructed in the 17th century, during the religious wars and Hispano-French conflicts, it was restructured by Vauban. He enhanced the defensive system and planned exterior structures, such as the redoutes as well as the town’s fortifications.
These works were in part completed.
Bishop prison
Although history retains no trace of episcopal presence at the "Bishop Prison", the name sticks. The reason for construction or ultimate use is still a mystery.
Try to guess while you admire the medieval architecture !
Jacob's gate
This fortified entrance to the medieval city is included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage of Humanity.
It owes its name to the passage of pilgrims on Jacob’s way, still numerous to this day.
During the Middle Ages, toll collectors were posted for security and toll collection.
St Etienne de Baigorry
Etchauz castle
In a grand park guarded by century old trees, this castle, from the 11th and 16th centuries, combines architectural science with “art de vivre”.
Dominating the village, the illustrious ancestral home of the Etchauz family, opens its doors and its memory.
House, Etxea
Saint Jean Pied de Port offers urbain architecture endowed with side by side townhouses in both the Citadel streets and the road to Spain, in the historic heart of the city. At street level, in ancient shops, craftsmen and tradesmen kept, and still keep shop. Family life is in the rear, upstairs and around the inner courtyard.
The house facades are either corbelled or half-timbered with pink Arradoy sandstones or brick. Often, above the threshold, carved beams bear the signature of time and the name or occupation of the first inhabitants. Several notable and typical houses : Maison Mansart (18th century) Maison Arcanzola, the oldest (1510), Maison des Etats de Navarre (1610).
In the villages, houses are less densely situated. They are grouped around the church and the fronton, thus forming the village square. Farms are dispersed and form hamlets (see Saint Etienne de Baigorry), or are isolated in the mountains.
House caracteristics :
Rectangular white washed houses with tiled, double section rooves.
Wall angles and jambes of doors and windows are made of cut pink sandstone
Also, a monumental arched doorway resembling the form of a bottle and sometimes rising to the upper story.
Some doors possess stone lintels in which inscriptions mention the name of the spouses and the date. In some cases, the date indicates the time of renovation. Often symbols have been inscribed : solaire, religious, occupational.
Additionaly ...
The rest of the region has a rich heritage, often humble but evocative and symbolic. Almost every village claims a castle or a noble home of which construction is attributed to the laminak (small Basque genies). The mountains are studded with small Roman Chapels or installations dating back to Roman Times (Roman cap at St Jean Le Vieux, tour d'Urkulu), and proto-historic sites (dolmens-cromlech, buriel mounds) attesting to the presence of man before our era (2000BC) and his belief in afterlife.
Numerous Navarre crosses punctuate Jacob’s way, and the cemeteries, along the way, brandish their discoidal gravestones.
At Banca, see vestiges of the 16th century copper mine.
The churches
Among the numerous churches, is Notre Dame of Saint Jean Pied de Port. This pink sandstone edifice, with foundations dating to the 13th century, is integrated into the towns ramparts and is one of the finest examples of Gothic Basque architecture.
In St Etienne de Baïgorry, Church St Etienne gives ombrage to a beautiful late 17th century listed alter-piece, three rows of tiered balconies and a German Remi Mahler organ.