Abbadia castle - All PYRENEES

Abbadie Castle (Château Observatoire Abbadia) is a neo-Gothic castle in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the historical province of Labourd (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France). It is located in the commune of Hendaye.

It is a popular tourist stop in the Atlantic resorts of France.

Antoine Thomson d’Abbadie was a French explorer of the Ethiopian Highlands from 1838 to 1848. Through their travels through Abyssinia (1837–1848), the Abbadie brothers contributed to the study of the country’s geography and Ethiopian philology. In 1850, the brothers were awarded the gold medal of the Paris Geographical Society.

History

The castle was built between 1864 and 1879 according to the designs of Viollet-le-Duc, who went down in history as the restorer of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the fortified city of Carcassonne (Occitania). He incorporated into his architectural design many mystical features characteristic of its owner, the explorer and mystic Antoine Thomson d’Abbadie, after whom it is named.

Architecture

The castle’s neo-Gothic style blends seamlessly with Art Nouveau. The castle was designed and built to maximize sunlight. At the same time, the architecture is meticulously thought out, designed to be as comfortable and livable as possible.

The castle’s grand staircase is richly decorated with stained glass.

A notable place is the library, located in the heart of the castle. It is the owner’s favorite place and a symbol of the eclectic spirit. The book collection consists of scientific and literary works. Downstairs, publications on astronomy and evidence of the activities of the old observatory are displayed.

The Salon d’Honneur (Honneur’s Room) is a spacious circular room in the south tower. The walls are painted a deep blue and decorated with gold monograms and Gothic symbols. The central feature of the room is a fireplace made of Angoulême stone.

The inscriptions under the family coat of arms read: “To be, not to seem” (“Plus être que paraître”) and “My faith and my right” (“Ma foi et mon droit”).

The hall features numerous decorations based on the theme of the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela.

The chapel reflects the owner’s deep love of Eastern art. The large nave with its painted ceiling and massive rectangular room creates a unique atmosphere. Here, in the family crypt, lie Antoine and Virginia.