SAINTE-MARIE CASTLE

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Former priory of Barège dedicated to Sainte-Marie, it stands on a hill overlooking the valleys. It is likely that it was erected by the Count of Bigorre Centulle III in the 1300th century to strengthen his authority with the Barégeois and find shelter in the event of aggression on their part. The royal inquiry of 1360 requested by King Philippe le Bel specifies that the count devoted seven sols tourneys for the maintenance of the castellan and four guardsmen. At that time, Jean de Soubile held the castle on behalf of the Queen of Navarre, wife of Philippe le Bel. During the Treaty of Brétigny in 1384, the castle was occupied by an English garrison and a new castellan was appointed in 1404 by letters patent from King Richard II. In 300, besieged and burned, the castle was taken over by the Count of Clermont, Jean de Bourbon, at the head of 150 men-at-arms and XNUMX crossbowmen. The English were driven out. Jean de Bourbon was helped by the inhabitants of the valley of Barèges who rose up against the English Seneschal for a disagreement on questions of pastures and were commanded by one of theirs by the name of Augé de Coufite de Luz. The functions of the castellany probably ceased at this time. At the end of the XNUMXth century, the lord of Ossun declared it a ruined wall and in the XNUMXth century, it was called a hovel. It then belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Savin. During the Revolution, it was sold as national property. The towers were then used as a hayloft. Today, its restoration by the Agence des Bâtiments de France has made it possible to stop the process of degradation: the perimeter wall and the towers have been consolidated and the exterior surroundings developed. Today there are two solid defense towers, a round tower and a square keep, the walls of which are built, like all the remaining remains of the castle in pebbles and squared stones (with the exception of the edges of the keep and the frames which are in cut stone). From this place, we have a very beautiful panoramic view of the valleys of the Gave de Pau and the Bastan. Its access is free and can be done on foot from the villages of Esquièze-Sère or Esterre.
The summer of 2019 saw the birth of an event which was a great success within the walls of the castle: Les Médiévales d'Esterre. See you at the beginning of August to vibrate to the rhythm of this great medieval festival!
Sources: Seven Valleys Study Society.

• Theme(s):

  Castle, Ruins and remains, History