The fortified castle of
A first enclosure of Roman origin was besieged in the 8th century by Charlemagne and then became the residence of the Counts of Bigorre.
In the 12th century, the site returned to the Kingdom of France, but it was ceded for a time to the English before returning to the royal domain in the 15th century.
During this period, the castle was equipped with a keep, then its defensive elements were reinforced in the 17th and 19th centuries.
Once transformed into a prison after the Revolution, since 1921 it has housed a museum dedicated to the popular arts and traditions of the Pyrenees.
The remains of the ancient fortifications are exposed on the site, but the oldest parts of the castle are its 11th and 12th century foundations.
The chapel, the keep, the concierge, the gate and the barbican are protected as historical monuments.
As for the museum housed within the enclosure, its collections evoke daily life, particularly in rural areas, in the Pyrenees, from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. Interiors have been reconstructed, traditional costumes are presented and a collection of 18th century earthenware is also visible. Baroque furniture from the former parish church of Lourdes and works of art donated to the museum in 1994 are also on display.
Outside, finally, but still within the castle grounds, the visitor can observe models of traditional housing, a reconstructed Pyrenean cemetery, and the public is invited to stroll through a pleasant botanical garden.
