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Fortress · Bayonne, Nova Aquitânia
Remparts de Bayonne
The walls that encircle central Bayonne, from the Roman wall to the medieval Château-Vieux and Vauban's 17th-century bastions, now featuring gardens such as the botanical garden.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Remparts de Bayonne
Bayonne was a fortified city since Roman times, when a castrum occupied the heights of Grand Bayonne. The Château-Vieux, a 12th-century castle that served as the governors' residence and is still used by the military, rests on the Roman wall and can be viewed from outside in the adjacent square. In the 17th century, Vauban, Louis XIV's military engineer, strengthened the walls and designed the citadel, which overlooks the Saint-Esprit neighborhood on the other side of the Adour.
Much of the bastions and moats still surround the center and have become green areas. On a Vauban bastion, between the cathedral and the walls, is the botanical garden, created in the late 1990s, with about a thousand plant species, Japanese maples, a Japanese-style bridge, a small pond and a waterfall. In Petit Bayonne, the park of the Mousserolles ramparts preserves another section, with lawns.
Walking along the moats and the rampart gardens gives another view of the city, with the cathedral towers rising above the roofs.
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
About an hour to see the Château-Vieux from the outside, the botanical garden and a stretch of the walls.
Best time
During the day, from spring to autumn, when the botanical garden is open, generally Tuesday to Saturday. In the morning the garden is quieter. Check the opening days before you go.
How to get there
The Château-Vieux is in the Grand Bayonne, about a 5-minute walk from the cathedral. The botanical garden is next to it, on the bastion, near the monument to the dead. The citadel can be seen from the banks of the Adour and from the Saint-Esprit neighborhood.
Tip
The Château-Vieux and the citadel are military areas and can only be seen from the outside. Combine the botanical garden with the cathedral, which is a few minutes away. The wall stairways can be steep.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Remparts de Bayonne
Can you visit the Château-Vieux in Bayonne?
Only from the outside. The 12th-century castle is still used by the army. The square and the surrounding walls are open and can be walked around on foot.
Who built the walls of Bayonne?
The city had Roman walls and medieval walls. In the 17th century, Vauban strengthened the fortifications and designed the citadel, which lies on the other side of the Adour.
Is the botanical garden of Bayonne open every day?
No. It usually opens Tuesday to Saturday, from spring to autumn. Check before you go.