Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Historic building · Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Nova Aquitânia
Prison des Évêques
House on the rua da Cidadela with a vaulted underground chamber from the 13th century, used as the municipal prison from 1795 and during the Second World War.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Prison des Évêques
The Prison des Évêques, 'prison of the bishops', is a house on the rua da Cidadela with a story the name does not fully convey. The lower part, an underground vaulted chamber with blocked windows and doors, dates from the 13th century and may have been a storehouse or a chapel. The upper house was rebuilt at the end of the 16th or start of the 17th century.
The name was given in the 20th century because of the neighbouring bishops' house, connected to the bishops of Bayonne, but there is no record that they used the place as a prison. The prison function is real and more recent: from 1795 the building served as the municipal prison; in the 19th century it held soldiers punished from the citadel; and in the Second World War, during the German occupation, it imprisoned people arrested while trying to cross the border into Spain.
The visit goes down into the vaulted chamber, with thick walls and little light, and passes through the cells. The site often hosts exhibitions about the town's history and the Camino.
It is located in the middle of the rua da Cidadela, between the Porte Saint-Jacques and the church, and the visit is short.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes.
Best time
Open seasonally, generally from spring to autumn. Check days and opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on the rua da Cidadela, halfway between the Porte Saint-Jacques and the church of Notre-Dame, about a 10-minute walk from the station.
Tip
Combine it with the walk along the rua da Cidadela: the entrance is on the route and the visit is quick.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Prison des Évêques
Was the Prison des Évêques really a prison for bishops?
There is no record of that. The name comes from the neighboring house, connected to the bishops of Bayonne. The building served as the municipal prison from 1795 and held fugitives during the Second World War.
What is the oldest part of the Prison des Évêques?
The underground chamber with stone vaults, from the 13th century.
Is the Prison des Évêques open year-round?
No. It opens in season, generally from spring to autumn. Check days and times before you go.