Built in the 14th century at the request of Gaston Phoebus to protect the borders of Béarn, Montaner Castle, today a listed Historic Monument, retains an imposing square keep as a reminder of its glorious past. Perched atop a hill, this red brick tower stands forty feet high, and offers a stunning 360° view over the Adour plain and the Pyrenees from its terrace! There is also an interactive tour that takes us back to medieval days and the times of its famous builder Gaston Phoebus, a legendary Pyrenean prince...
The charming church of St Michael, nestled below the walled enclosure, is also worth a visit, if only for its beautiful frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries!
Every year in July, the village of Montaner and its castle host the Médiévales, a two-day festival with street entertainment, a craft market, falconry and riding displays, and fire eaters...
