Arcangues Castle (Château d’Arcangues in French) is located in the Basque lands near Arcangues town (or Arrangoitze in Basque).
It is located near Biarritz, in the Atlantic Pyrenees department (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
The castle rises on a small hill in the middle of a park planted with three-hundred-year-old oaks, overlooking Bayonne on one side and the Pyrenees mountains on the other.
The castle is rich in history. The Arcangues family pedigree, one of the oldest families of the Basque Country, dates back to 1150. The first Arcangues castle was built in the 12th century. However, it was completely destroyed and restored only in 1900.
At the same time, the castle preserved furniture that furnished the room of the Duke of Wellington (British commander and statesman, field marshal, a participant in the Napoleonic Wars, winner of the Battle of Waterloo, 25th and 28th Prime Minister of Great Britain). It was he who in 1813 made the castle his headquarters during the Battle of Nive (Nive is the left tributary of the River Adour).
The castle was restored in the same proportions. A library containing more than 10,000 volumes has also been preserved.
One of the most prominent personalities who owned the castle was Pierre D’Arcangues, 1886-1973, mayor of Arcangues for 40 years (1929-1969).
He renovated and decorated the town’s historic center, inviting the Basque Country craftsmen to do this. When he was the mayor they built several elementary schools (1959), the “Theater of Nature” (Théatre de la Nature, 1968), the town hall and the reconstruction of the church’s bell tower took place. As president of the Biarritz Tourism and Festivals Committee, during the Roaring Twenties (Années folles), he organized parties, balls, gala concerts and other prestigious events attended by all the celebrities of the time.
Among them: “Goya Ball” (“Bal Goya”), “The Second Ball of the Empire” (“Bal Second Empire”, 1922), “The Ball of Petrushka” (“Bal Petrouchka”), “The Ball of the Planet Mars” (“Bal de la Planète Mars ”) and founded in 1949, along with Jean Cocteau, the“ Cursed Film Festival ”(“Festival du Film Maudit”). Writer, a poet, lecturer, wrote about twenty books in a wide variety of literary genres. Among them: “Crazy Tour” (“La Folle Tournée” 1924), “The Prince and the Tailor” (“Le Prince et le Tailleur”, 1936), “In the Royal Palace” (“Dans le Palais du Roi”, 1926), “The Return of the Ambassador” (“Le Retour de l’Ambassadeur”, 1929), “The Empress of China is Sick” (“L’Impératrice de Chine est malade”), “School of the Gigolos” (“L’Ecole des Gigolos”, 1928), “The Grand Duke’s Shirt” (La Chemise du Grand-Duc, 1925), “Do Americans Have Wings in California?” (“En Californie, Les Américains ont-ils des Ailes?”, 1957), as well as poems: “Laurels on the Tombs” (“Les Lauriers Sur Les Tombes”), “Grain of the Mustard” (“Le Grain de Sénevé” 1913), “Song of the Sources” (“Le Chant des Sources” 1911), “When He Comes Back” (“Quand il Reviendra”), “Tenderness” (“Tendresse”), “Seven Poems about the Basque Country” (“Sept Poèmes Sur le Pays Basque).
He also went down in history with his memories of two world wars: “Coast 304” (“La Côte 304”, 1966), “Month at Fort Ha” (“Un Mois au Fort du Hâ”), travel stories: “Lands of the Sun and Secrets ”(“Terres de Soleil et de Mystère”, 1955), poetry in prose:“ Songs of Caddur ”(“Les Chansons de Kaddour ”1964),“ Old Man and Rose ”(“Le Vieillard et la Rose ”1972), historical texts: “Kings at the Holidays in Biarritz” (“Rois en Vacances à Biarritz” 1947), “The Fate of Spain” (“Le Destin de l’Espagne” 1938).
It is known that in the 1920s and 1930s, the Yusupovs (the oldest princely family of Russia) visited the Marquis Pierre d’Arcangues castle often.
The eldest son of Pierre d’Arcangues – Michel – also went down in history as an outstanding personality. As a teenager, he was fond of the Basque language and culture. He learned to play the Basque flute also, performed at festivals and became very popular.
After military service, he wrote a book on the history of democracy in the Basque Country called “The Basque Letter”, which reflects his nationalist beliefs and love for his land. However, he could not finish his book (his father edited it). Michel disappeared into the sea near San Sebastian on the night of February 1st to 2, 1946 under circumstances that still remain mysterious.
You should also pay attention to Guy d’Arcangues, the second of four children of Pierre d’Arcangues. He followed in the footsteps of his father in the field of poetry and literature. In the 1960s, he was also an excellent golfer and led the amateur team in France (1960-1965). He published several books for which he was awarded the French Academy Award and the “Three Crowns” Award.
The castle was included on the list of historical monuments on April 2nd, 1980. The castle has been open for weddings, seminars, parties, and private dinners since September 2009. Films, concerts and fashion shows can be arranged at the castle as well.
Castle and D’Arcangues Family Museum
The castle’s first floor consists of 6 magnificent rooms, decorated in different styles. Here you can see the surviving furniture that adorned the old castle which burned down in 1636.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Christmas and New Year.
How to get there?
Arcangues Castle is located 8 kilometers from the Atlantic coast, 25 kilometers from the Spanish border, 10 minutes from Biarritz airport and train station.
Shortest distances by car:
- From Paris: 7 hr 35 min (777 km) via A10
- From Bordeaux: 2 hr 14 min (193 km) via A63
- From Madrid: 5 hr 7 min (504 km) via A-1
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also Andorra travel guide